Devon Bostick & ‘Stranger Things’ Natalia Dyer To Star In ‘Tuscaloosa’
DEADLINE – EXCLUSIVE: Devon Bostick, who co-starred on CW’s The 100, and Natalia Dyer will star in the indie drama Tuscaloosa, along with Tate Donovan (The Only Living Boy in New York, 3 Generations) and Marchant Davis. Philip Harder directed the film from his own screenplay, based on the novel of the same name by W. Glasgow Phillips.
The story is set during the summer of 1972 and follows Billy Mitchell (Bostick), who works as a groundskeeper at the asylum run by his father, Doctor Mitchell. But when he falls in love with Virginia (Dyer), one of his father’s patients, Billy sets in motion a romance that could end in tragedy for both of them.
Producers are Brian Etting, Scott Franklin, and Patrick Riley.
Bostick, repped by Innovative, can currently be seen in Bong Joon-Ho’s Netflix film Okja with Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, and Tilda Swinton. Dyer, who stars on the just-released second season of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things, is repped by WME and One Entertainment. Donovan is a client of Gersh and Authentic Talent and Literary Management, while Davis is with Innovative and 3 Arts.
In 2016, Americans and beyond were terrified by a looming, evil presence on their television screens… And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump at the presidential debates, but rather the diabolical “Demogorgon” on Netflix’s runaway smash hit, Stranger Things—the show we all binge-watched (and rewatched) this year.
Hearkening back to the nostalgic Steven Spielberg-era family horror of the ‘80s, Stranger Things became, ironically, the least strange and most comforting escape in a world gone mad when it premiered on the streaming service over the summer. Its cast of endearing, relatable kids anchored the show’s otherwise dark and conspiratorial premise with a sense of levity and heart. Natalia Dyer was one of those kids—or rather, teenager.
Playing Nancy Wheeler, the high school-aged big sis to Mike, the Eleven-crushin’, Dungeons and Dragons player trying to unravel the mystery of his disappeared friend, Dyer’s character started off as the typical vision of any early ‘80s cinematic coming-of-age teen girl: an eye-rolling, boy obsessed princess caught between the worlds of popularity and authentic friendship. Facing incredible danger, however, Nancy quickly evolved into one of the show’s most badass feminist players alongside Winona Ryder’s desperate, relentless Joyce Byers and Millie Bobby Brown’s fierce fan-favorite Eleven.
Below, the Nashville-bred, New York-based actress and I converse about what it was like landing her life-changing gig, getting caught up on ‘80s cinema (a decade she never personally experienced), learning how to navigate the industry with grace thanks to a certain iconic co-star, and, of course, justice for Barb.
Natalia Dyer is straddling two worlds right now.
In one, she’s a 19-year-old student at NYU — she’s studying at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she explains her focus as “looking at semiotics, language, and art and how they interact with each other.” But in the other, she’s one of the stars of Stranger Things, the Netflix show that blends the great high school films of the ‘80s with the horror movies from the same decade — oh, and includes a terrifying monster from an alternate reality known as the Upside Down.
Her character, older sister Nancy Wheeler, has a lot to deal with. High school is never easy; imagine what it would be like if your best friend and your brother’s best friend both went missing. And imagine navigating college while also planning to film the second season of a hit show.
Which reality is the Upside Down? That’s for you to decide. And so far, Natalia and Nancy are both handling it all just fine. Teen Vogue caught up with the actress to talk about how her character turns a classic ‘80s trope on its head, what she’s learned from costar Winona Ryder, and what she hopes to explore when we return to Hawkins, Indiana.
Welcome to Natalia Dyer Fan, a fansite dedicated to the talented and beautiful Natalia Dyer. You may recognize Natalia from Stranger Things or I Believe in Unicorns. Here you will find the latest news and photos including screen captures of Natalia in her many film and television projects.
