Josh Hartnett has boarded Moonsong: A Life in Seven Verses, Rebecca Miller's biopic of Goodnight Moon author Margaret Wise Brown. Hartnett plays "Big Bill" Gaston, a socialite and one of Brown's defining love affairs, according to Deadline.
The announcement extends a cast already in place. Elle Fanning leads as Brown. Julianne Moore plays the poet Michael Strange, described as a powerful and destructive influence on Brown's artistic path. New additions Emma Thompson, Sally Hawkins, Danny Huston, Robert Aramayo, and Chloe Pirrie have also joined the project, with their roles not yet announced.
Miller wrote the screenplay herself, adapting Leonard S. Marcus's biography Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon. Set in 1930s New York, the film follows Brown as she develops a sensory approach to children's literature within a community of artists and educators. Her books, including Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, have sold over 300 million copies across more than 25 languages, according to Deadline.
Martin Scorsese executive produces through Round Films alongside Miller and Damon Cardasis. Jarin Blaschke handles cinematography. Oscar-winning effects artist Neal Scanlan oversees creature work and puppetry. Production is set to begin in May 2027. The Veterans is presenting the project at the American Film Market.
Miller has described Brown, per Deadline, as someone who never lost a childlike view of the world while building a business that published over a hundred books. Fanning is expected to make her a symbol for young people searching for a way to live without giving up their true selves.
