(JTA) — Israeli director Joseph Cedar’s English-language debut film has added top Hollywood figures Steve Buscemi and Michael Sheen to a cast that included Richard Gere.

“Oppenheimer Strategies,” which began production on Sunday and will shoot in New York and Israel, also will feature Josh Charles and Charlotte Gainsbourg, as well as the Israeli actor Lior Ashkenazi, according to a recent report by Deadline Hollywood.

Gere stars as the title figure, Norman Oppenheimer, a small-time operator who befriends a young, down-and-out politician. Oppenheimer’s life is transformed when the politician rises to international prominence.

Along with directing, Cedar, 46, also wrote the script. His last two films, “Beaufort” (2007) and “Footnote” (2011) were each nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.

One of the producers of “Oppenheimer Strategies” is Oren Moverman, also a native of Israel, who co-wrote and directed “The Messenger” (2009), which was also nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Original Screenplay.