The Tender Bar (film)

The Tender Bar is an upcoming American coming-of-age drama film directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by William Monahan. It is an adaptation of the 2005 memoir of the same name by J. R. Moehringer and is set to be released by Amazon Studios. The memoir recounts growing up on Long Island and the filming took place in Massachusetts, but the movie is set in North Carolina in the 1980's.
Premise.
A boy seeks a replacement for his father, who disappeared shortly after his birth, and bonds with his uncle and the patrons at a bar.
Production.
The project initially began development in 2013 at Sony Pictures and Chernin Entertainment, with Ted Melfi set as writer and director. Upon his exit, Sony placed the project into turnaround, with Amazon Studios picking up the rights in July 2020. George Clooney entered negotiations to direct the film from a screenplay by William Monahan. Clooney was also attached to produce the film alongside his Smokehouse Pictures producing partner Grant Heslov. Ted Hope was also announced as a producer under his first-look deal at Amazon Studios. Clooney was confirmed as director in December 2020, with Ben Affleck entering negotiations to star. Affleck's role was confirmed in February 2021, along with the castings of Tye Sheridan and Lily Rabe as the leads. In March 2021, Christopher Lloyd, Sondra James, Max Martini, Michael Braun, Matthew Delamater, Max Casella, Rhenzy Feliz, Ivan Leung, Briana Middleton, and Daniel Ranieri joined the cast of the film.
Principal photography, performed at various locations in eastern Massachusetts, began on February 22, 2021 and was expected to conclude in mid-April of 2021.