Jonathan Bailey and Bill Nighy to Star in Insomniac City

On November 9, Jonathan Bailey and Bill Nighy were announced as the leads of Insomniac City, a feature film directed by Dominic Cooke. Bailey will portray writer and photographer Bill Hayes, with Nighy playing neurologist Oliver Sacks. The film is based on Hayes’s 2017 memoir and depicts the relationship between the two men.

The story follows Hayes after he moves to New York from San Francisco following a devastating loss. As he tries to rebuild his life, he develops a connection with the city and falls in love with Sacks. The filmmakers describe the film as an exploration of sorrow, optimism, belonging and fresh starts.

Hayes and Cooke adapted the memoir for the screen. Producers include Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Bailey, Mike Goodridge and Gabrielle Tana. Altitude is managing worldwide sales and plans to present the project to buyers at the American Film Market.

Sacks authored a book about a man unable to recognize his wife, along with Awakenings. The latter inspired an Oscar-nominated movie featuring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. Cooke called the memoir a story about unexpected love and new beginnings, and said he was honored to bring it to the screen with Bailey, Nighy and the production team.