Pyramide takes sales on ‘Clash’ Elba eyed for villain role in ‘Star Trek 3’LOS ANGELES, March 26, (RTRS): French sales company Pyramide International has taken world sales on Egyptian auteur Mohamed Diab’s timely Islamic fundamentalism-themed thriller “Clash,” now set to start shooting in Cairo in April with Franco-German network Arte also on board.
Diab, known internationally for bold sex harassment pic “Cairo 678,” will delve into Egypt’s religion-related political turbulence with “Clash,” which looks likely to take on broader global significance.
“Clash” is entirely inside an overcrowded police truck packed with both pro-and anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators gathered amid one of the massive protests that followed the events of July 3, 2013, as crowds celebrated the ouster of prexy Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood member.
“It becomes more relevant today when co-existence of ideologically opposed forces is part of the reason for extremism all over the world,” said Egyptian writer-producer Mohamed Hefzy who is shepherding the film through his Film Clinic company. Film Clinic is known, among other titles, for Ahmad Abdalla’s 2010 “Microphone,” about the hip-hop scene in Egypt’s Alexandria, a radical movie that was considered a harbinger of the Arab Spring
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Pyramide topper Eric Lagesse is co-producing “Clash” via his Sampek shingle and will release it in France through Pyramide, besides selling it internationally.
Arte France Cinema, the unit headed by former Locarno fest topper Olivier Pere, has boarded the film as co-producer.
In the wake of the early January Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks in Paris, Hefzy and Lagesse had vowed to forge ahead with “Clash,” which marks Film Clinic’s first official Egypt-France co-production and collaboration between the two countries that “is not just financial,” Hefzy said.
The film will start shooting April 26 partly on the real Cairo locations of the protests and partly in studio. In “tackles Islamist extremists and Islamists versus the rest of society in a nonjudgemental way,” added Hefzy and will mix drama, humor and human situations in a story “that is not just about politics.”
BBC Films, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary at a party in London today, has revealed its latest slate, which includes new projects from the directors of “The Theory of Everything” and “The Lunchbox,” as well as a film sequel to Ricky Gervais’ “The Office” and a new film from “Veep” creator Armando Iannucci.
Gervais catches up with David Brent 15 years after “The Office” with his film “Life on the Road.” Brent is now a traveling salesman engaged in a belated bid for rock stardom, with a documentary crew following his every move. It is written and directed by Gervais, who will also produce alongside Charlie Hanson.
James Marsh, the director of “The Theory of Everything,” is helming a film recounting the true story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst, and his attempt to win the first single-handed round-the-world yacht race in 1968. Pic is produced by Blueprint Pictures; it is written by Scott Z. Burns and stars Colin Firth.
Ritesh Batra, who helmed “The Lunchbox,” will direct an adaptation of Julian Barnes’ Man Booker Prize-winning novel “The Sense of an Ending.” The adaptation is the debut screenplay of playwright Nick Payne, whose play “Constellations” has recently been on Broadway starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The film tells the story of Tony Webster, whose comfortable world is rocked to its foundations by the emergence of an explosive letter from his careless youth. David Thompson will produce for Origin Pictures.
Iannucci, who is best known for “In the Loop” and “Veep,” has begun development on a new version of “David Copperfield,” to be adapted by Iannucci and Simon Blackwell.
Rafe Spall will star in a new adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s novel “Swallows and Amazons,” which has been adapted by Andrea Gibb. The film will be directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and is produced by Nick Barton.
BBC Films projects also include Stephen Frears’ “Florence Foster Jenkins,” which tells the story of the world’s worst soprano, who sold out Carnegie Hall. It will be filming this year with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant starring.
Lone Scherfig will direct “Their Finest Hour and a Half,” based on the novel by Lissa Evans, and written by Gaby Chiappe. Amanda Posey and Stephen Woolley will produce the comedic drama about life in wartime London.
Pete Travis directs contemporary detective thriller “City of Tiny Lights,” which is based on the novel by Patrick Neate. Pic is produced by Ado Yoshizaki, Charles Steel and Rebecca O’Brien. Neate wrote the screenplay. The cast includes Riz Ahmed and Cush Jumbo.
There are three feature documentaries on the slate. The first focuses on jockey A.P. McCoy in the final year of his career as he fights to become champion for the 20th time and faces a future out of the saddle. Director Sophie Fiennes reaches beyond Grace Jones’ iconic mask in the observational portrait “Grace Jones — The Musical of My Life.” It is produced by Katie Holly, James Wilson, Emilie Blezat and Fiennes. BBC Films join the BFI Film Fund and the Irish Film Board as co-financers.
Steve Cantor is directing the feature documentary “Tiger Son,” about the youngest-ever star of the Royal Ballet, Sergei Polunin. The film charts the story of the gifted Ukrainian boy who joined the Royal Ballet at 13 and became a principal at 19. In January 2012 he made the dramatic decision to walk away from his career. The film will be produced by Gaby Tana. Ross MacGibbon and David La Chapelle have both provided additional footage. The film includes choreography by LaChapelle.
Christine Langan, head of BBC Films, said: “We’re hugely excited about a current slate that reflects what a dynamic and vibrant place Britain is today. Britain has a wealth of incredible filmmaking talent, and it’s never been more important for the BBC to support, promote and celebrate it.”
Idris Elba is in early talks to play the villain in “Star Trek 3,” sources tell Variety.
Justin Lin is directing the pic, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana and Anton Yelchin all on board to return.
J.J. Abrams will produce along with his producing partner Bryan Burke and Skydance’s David Ellison. Production is set to start in June.
Details of Elba’s role are being kept under wraps. Early rumors suggest that Klingons would be the main villains in this movie, as they have not had a full presence in previous installments, but sources would not confirm if that was the case. Paramount and Skydance had no comment.
Pegg and Doug Jung are writing the script.
Elba stars in Cary Fukunaga’s “Beasts of No Nation,” which Netflix recently acquired for distribution, and is already garnering awards buzz for the actor.
He recently finished “Bastille Day” opposite “Cinderella” star Richard Madden and also has “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Disney’s “The Jungle Book” and the indie “A Hundred Streets” set to bow in the near future.
He is repped by WME, Headshell Management, The Artist Partnership and Hertz & Lichtenstein.