Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on May 17, 2014 13:53:55 GMT -6
variety.com/2014/film/news/cannes-benedict-cumberbatch-tye-sheridan-in-iraq-war-drama-yellow-birds-1201184190/
Benedict Cumberbatch, Tye Sheridan and Will Poulter are starring in Iraq war drama “The Yellow Birds.”
The story centers around two soldiers, a 21-year-old played by Cumberbatch and a teenager played by Sheridan, who meet in boot camp on the eve of their deployment in Iraq. The older soldier, bound by a promise to the teen’s mother, takes the younger soldier under his wing during their deployment.
The project is financed by Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton’s Cinelou Films in a partnership with Story Mining and Supply Co.
Story Mining’s CEO-president Jeffrey Sharp (“Boys Don’t Cry”) and president of production Evan Hayes (“Everest”) acquired the rights to the Kevin Powers novel and developed the script. They will produce the film along with Solomon and Canton; Jim Kohlberg will executive produce.
David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”) will direct the film from his own script.
The Solution will handle foreign sales in Cannes. WME Global, CAA and UTA will handle the domestic sale.
“The Yellow Birds” was published in 2012 and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Powers served as a machine gunner with the U.S. Army in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
“I never had any interest in making a war film until Jeff and Evan brought me the novel by Kevin Powers,” Lowery said. “And perhaps I still don’t, because while Powers’ story takes place during wartime, it isn’t about the conflict. It is about characters who find themselves caught up in war, but who struggle to not let it define them. I fell in love with them. It is a beautiful and deeply personal tale, relayed through images and memories, and I am excited to have the chance to bring it to the screen.”
Cinelou just completed filming of its first film “Cake,” starring Jennifer Aniston, Sam Worthington, Anna Kendrick, Adrianna Barraza, William H. Macy, Britt Robertson, Mammie Gummer and Felicity Huffman.
It also announced Saturday an additional five-picture deal with Shenghua Entertainment, three months after making an initial $50 million financing pact with Shengua in Berlin.
Cumberbatch will next be seen in “The Imitation Game” for The Weinstein Company. Sheridan starred in “Mud” and is shooting “Scouts vs. Zombies.” Poulter starred in “We’re the Millers.”
Cumberbatch is repped by UTA and Conway van Gelder Grant. Lowery, Sheridan and Poulter are repped by WME.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Tye Sheridan and Will Poulter are starring in Iraq war drama “The Yellow Birds.”
The story centers around two soldiers, a 21-year-old played by Cumberbatch and a teenager played by Sheridan, who meet in boot camp on the eve of their deployment in Iraq. The older soldier, bound by a promise to the teen’s mother, takes the younger soldier under his wing during their deployment.
The project is financed by Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton’s Cinelou Films in a partnership with Story Mining and Supply Co.
Story Mining’s CEO-president Jeffrey Sharp (“Boys Don’t Cry”) and president of production Evan Hayes (“Everest”) acquired the rights to the Kevin Powers novel and developed the script. They will produce the film along with Solomon and Canton; Jim Kohlberg will executive produce.
David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”) will direct the film from his own script.
The Solution will handle foreign sales in Cannes. WME Global, CAA and UTA will handle the domestic sale.
“The Yellow Birds” was published in 2012 and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Powers served as a machine gunner with the U.S. Army in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
“I never had any interest in making a war film until Jeff and Evan brought me the novel by Kevin Powers,” Lowery said. “And perhaps I still don’t, because while Powers’ story takes place during wartime, it isn’t about the conflict. It is about characters who find themselves caught up in war, but who struggle to not let it define them. I fell in love with them. It is a beautiful and deeply personal tale, relayed through images and memories, and I am excited to have the chance to bring it to the screen.”
Cinelou just completed filming of its first film “Cake,” starring Jennifer Aniston, Sam Worthington, Anna Kendrick, Adrianna Barraza, William H. Macy, Britt Robertson, Mammie Gummer and Felicity Huffman.
It also announced Saturday an additional five-picture deal with Shenghua Entertainment, three months after making an initial $50 million financing pact with Shengua in Berlin.
Cumberbatch will next be seen in “The Imitation Game” for The Weinstein Company. Sheridan starred in “Mud” and is shooting “Scouts vs. Zombies.” Poulter starred in “We’re the Millers.”
Cumberbatch is repped by UTA and Conway van Gelder Grant. Lowery, Sheridan and Poulter are repped by WME.