Kinology Boards British Action-Comedy ‘Moonwalkers’ With Ron Perlman and Rupert Grint (EXCLUSIVE)
PARIS– Kinology is on board to co-produce and handle international sales on Antoine Bardou-Jacquet’s “Moonwalkers,” a British action comedy with Ron Perlman (“Before I Disappear”), Rupert Grint (“Harry Potter”) and Robert Sheehan (“Misfits”), produced by Georges Bermann’s Partizan.
Dean Craig, whose credits include “Death at a Funeral” penned the script of “Moonwalkers.” Stephen Campbell Moore, Kevin Bishop and James Cosmo also star.
Set in July 1969,”Moonwalkers” follows a CIA agent (Ron Perman, pictured above) who is sent to London to find Stanley Kubrick and ask him to shoot a fake moon landing in case the real one fails. Although he’s not able to meet Kubrick, he crosses paths with Jonny (Rupert Grint), the loser manager of a hippie rock band. Together they embark on an ill-fated mission to come up with a film.
Partizan is one of France’s most successful purveyors of high-profile commercials and music videos. Over the years, Bermann has helped developed the career of talented commercials and music videos directors, most notably Michel Gondry (“The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Be Kind Rewind”) and more recently Kim Chapiron who made his debut with “Dog Pound” which won a Tribeca nod.
“Moonwalkers” marks the feature debut of Bardou-Jacquet, who has been working with Bermann for about 15 years on such hit commercials as Peugeot ‘s ‘Wacky Racers’ and Honda’s ‘Cog,’ winner of a flurry of awards, including Cannes Lions’ Grand Prix.
“Thanks to his background in commercials, Antoine Bardou-Jacquet is extremely skilled in art direction so we’re expecting a great production value with polished Swinging-London decors and decadent characters a la Andy Warhol,” explained Bermann. “He’s having a lot of fun with the movie because he’s able to express his creativity more freely than when working on commercials.”
Bermann added that “although the movie has a left-of-field plot and is making fun of conspiracy theories, it is not a spoof like ‘Austin Powers.’ The movie is gag-laden but it’s also a true action film with characters who actually get somewhere.”
Gregoire Melin, founder and prexy of Paris-based Kinology, said he was attracted by the hilarious script, sharp dialogue and high concept of the project. Kinology will show the first images from the movie at the AFM.
Pic has just started shooting in Bruxelles and will be released in France by Stephane Celerier’s Mars Distribution. Belgian shingle Nexus Factory is co-producing.
Partizan’s latest collaboration with Gondry, “Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy” – an animated doc featuring a conversation with Noam Chomsky — world premiered in Berlin and was released in the U.S. by IFC last december.
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