March 27, 2009 12:46 PM ET
The trailer for one of Rock Daily's most anticipated films of the year, Taking Woodstock, debuted March 25th during an episode of Demetri Martin's Comedy Central show, Towleroad reports. The film tells the true story of Elliot Tiber, played by Martin, who helps organizer Michael Lang secure a concert permit in order to stage the famed 1969 music festival in upstate New York (incidentally, Woodstock celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer). The film was directed by Ang Lee and also stars Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Watchmen's Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Paul Dano, Imelda Staunton and Eugene Levy as Max Yasgur, whose farmland became the stage for Woodstock.
"The cast is insanely fresh," producer James Schamus told Rock Daily in August 2008. "It's an amazing bunch of people. You look around and I can't believe we're getting away with this." Despite director Lee's oeuvre of serious dramas like The Ice Storm, Brokeback Mountain and Lust, Caution, both Schamus and Lee wanted to make sure Taking Woodstock "is about play and fun and has hopeful spirit," the producer said. So comedian Martin, who is relatively new to film acting, was cast to play the lead of Elliot Tiber after Schamus saw a video of Martin on YouTube.
The film hits theaters on August 14th, just one day before the 40th anniversary of the first day of the Woodstock festival, which began on August 15th, 1969.
Related Stories:
• Producer James Schamus Says Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock" Will Capture "Hopeful Spirit"
• Report: Woodstock '09 In the Works To Celebrate 40th Anniversary of 1969 Festival
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