Vera Farmiga to star in 'Drummer'

FarmigaVera Farmiga will join Aaron Eckhart in helmer Randall Miller's indie music biopic "The Drummer," about Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson.Farmiga, who received an Oscar nomination for 2009's "Up in mid-airInch and recently made her directorial debut with "Greater Ground," may have notable Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie.Burns is creating with scribe Jody Savin through their banner Unclaimed Freight Prods.(The pair were behind 2008's indie hit "Bottle Shock.") Record companies vet Kaira Rosenberger also produces."The Drummer" follows six years in Wilson's existence throughout they and McVie sparked another and tumultuous relationship before Wilson's dying in 1983. Fleetwood Mac's album "Mirage," released in 1982, features the hit song "Hold Me," co-put together by McVie and apparently inspired by her romance with Wilson.Farmiga joins the project just like a typically trained pianist. "She's numerous duets with Eckhart inside the film," Burns noted. "The mix of Aaron and Vera will probably be pure miracle."Slated to begin lensing June 15, "The Drummer" is co-produced by Wilson's children, Carl and Jennifer. Gerry DeKlerk and Irene Nelson of Rampart Films professional produce, along with Caribou Records' Jim Guercio and Julie Sultan, prexy of worldwide sales and distribution for W2 Media, that's co-financing and handling foreign rights for your film. Jonathan Gardner of Cohen/Gardner talked about the sale regarding the producers with CAA's Tracey Brennan and Jodi Peikoff of Peikoff Law Offices for Farmiga.She's repped by CAA and Jon Rubinstein of Authentic Talent and Literary Management. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com