Film Snail

6.9

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

R·2019·123m

Drama

Summary

A decade after the death of an American TV star, a young actor reminisces about the written correspondence he once shared with the former, as well as the impact those letters had on both their lives.

Cast

Kit Harington

John F. Donovan

Natalie Portman

Sam Turner

Jacob Tremblay

Rupert Turner

Susan Sarandon

Grace Donovan

Kathy Bates

Barbara Haggermaker

Ben Schnetzer

Rupert Turner (21 y.o.)

Thandiwe Newton

Journalist

Jared Keeso

James Donovan

Chris Zylka

Will Jefford Jr.

Amara Karan

Miss Kureshi

Emily Hampshire

Amy Bosworth

Michael Gambon

Man in Diner

Sarah Gadon

Liz Jones

Susan Almgren

Aunt Faith

Jane Wheeler

Aunt Anne

Craig Eldridge

Uncle Patrick

Lukas Rolfe

Cedric

Ari Millen

Big Billy

Gijs Blom

Rupert's Boyfriend

Rob Baker

Late Night Show Host

Ellen David

Adam's Mother

Pat Kiely

Director

Anne Mroczkowski

News Anchor

James Marchant

Police Officer

Suzanne Virdee

Female Anchor

Guenièvre Sandré

Barmaid

Sangita Patel

Journalist #1

Hamza Haq

Journalist #2

Matthew Raudsepp

Hellsome High Actor

Michael Brunet

Cashier

Michael Dozier

Lawyer #1

Harvey Diamond

Lawyer #2

Pierre-Luc Lafontaine

Fan in the Club

Vincent Messina

Young Fan

Anthony Luigi Aguiar

Young Fan

Cassie Luk

Young Fan

Hannah Morgan Lord

Young Fan

Rebecca Windheim

Young Fan

Dakota Jamal Wellman

Eric (uncredited)

Leni Parker

Bonnie (uncredited)

Katy Breier

Trish (uncredited)

Alison Louder

Hellsome High Actress (uncredited)

Brent Skagford

Editor #1 (uncredited)

Carolyn Fe

Porter (uncredited)

Connor McMahon

Intern (Sasha) (uncredited)

Holly Bernier

Journalist (uncredited)

Sam Taylor Buck

Young Daniel (uncredited)

Daniel Murphy

Editor #2 (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Idea, Writer

Xavier Dolan

Writer

Jacob Tierney

Reviews

cityguide

September 5, 2018

Perhaps best known as the film that Jessica Chastain’s role was cut from, Xavier Dolan’s upcoming drama is still plenty star-studded, featuring a cast that includes Natalie Portman, Jacob Tremblay, Thandie Newton, Susan Sarandon, and Kit Harington. Though little is truly known about the project — only a single 17-second teaser trailer has been released — it’s described as a reminiscence on the life and death of an American TV star (Kit Harington), as told through his then 11-year-old pen pal (Jacob Tremblay)