The Schmooze

Nicholas Hoult to Play J.D. Salinger in Upcoming Biopic

By Anne Cohen August 31, 2015

The phonies in Hollywood are making a movie about J.D. Salinger.

Who’s playing him? Nicholas Hoult.

What’s it called? “Rebel in the Rye.”

Who’s directing? “Empire“‘s Danny Strong.

Who’s writing the script? Also Danny Strong — based on a 2011 Salinger biography by Kenneth Slawenski.

Why do we care? The celebrated author was born Jerome David Salinger to one Sol Salinger, kosher cheese seller, and Miriam Salinger (who, while not born Jewish, definitely considered herself one of the Tribe).

Let’s just hope it’s not lousy.

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Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

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