Ewan McGregor's wife convinced him to direct 'American Pastoral'.
Ewan McGregor'
The actor was attached to star in the movie for many years but when the project found itself without a director, Ewan says his spouse Eve encouraged him to helm the movie.
He told Variety: "Honestly, it [was] my wife, Eve. When we lost the director in late 2014, she said I should do it. I had been looking to director for 20 years and it was never the right opportunity but this one just came together. I spent a day with the script, really being honest about playing the role and having the bigger picture in my head. I suggested myself to the Lakeshore producers and after giving them that big picture, they shortly after let me direct it.
"It was sort of a series of happy coincidences. I was attached to act in it for a number of years. And I never thought about directing because there was always someone else attached to it or it was director-less."
Dakota Fanning co-stars in the movie with Ewan and Jennifer Connelly and she praised his directing skills.
She said: "He's just a lovely person to be around. Getting to know him was a wonderful part of my life and getting to be part of his first time directing, I think it's something he'll remember and I'm so thrilled to be a part of that."
Jennifer added: "He's very confident as a director and he really created a very nice environment for everyone to collaborate in."
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