Cannes Briefs: Ed Westwick Joins ‘Bone In The Throat’; Jessica Chastain Hosting ‘Cleopatra’ Event; 108 Media’s ‘Jug Face’; Wild Bunch Ups Carole Baraton; More

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Ed Westwick Has A ‘Bone In The Throat’
EXCLUSIVE: Ed Westwick will play the lead in the film adaptation of Anthony Bourdain’s foodie noir thriller novel Bone In The Throat. Burn Gorman (The Dark Knight Rises, Revenge) and Liam Cunningham (Game Of Thrones) have also joined the cast of the film to be helmed by commercials director Graham Henman in his feature debut. He co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Townend. Lenny Beckerman and Peter Heslop are producing the story of a sous-chef at the hottest restaurant in London’s East End who becomes embroiled in his uncle’s underground mob activity when he witnesses him commit a murder. Executive producer Maggie Monteith of Dignity Film Finance is backing the picture set to shoot in London in the fall. Westwick is repped by Michael Hallett at Emptage Hallet. Cunningham and Gorman are repped by Management 360 and the UK’s Independent Talent.

Fox, Bulgari Roll Out Red Carpet For Cannes ‘Cleopatra’
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is partnering with jeweler Bulgari to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s legendary Cleopatra. A restored 243-minute version will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, hosted by Jessica Chastain and attended by members of the families of stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The screening will be followed by a reception featuring pieces on display from Taylor’s personal jewelry collection. The exhibition also will include original costumes from the film which are on loan from Cinecittà. Following the Cannes premiere, Twentieth Century Fox will release Cleopatra in limited theatrical engagements in more than 200 theaters around the world. The 50th anniversary Blu-ray Cleopatra debuts May 28.

108 Puts On ‘Jug Face’
108 Media has acquired horror pic Jug Face with international sales to start in Cannes. Chad Crawford Kinkle’s story of a demonic power worshipped by an isolated rural community won the grand prize for screenplay in Slamdance earlier this year. The ensemble cast features Sean Young, Larry Fessenden, Lauren Ashley Carter, Daniel Manche and Sean Bridgers.

Carole Baraton Promoted At Wild Bunch
Carole Baraton has been appointed head of international sales at Wild Bunch. The exec has been with the company since its inception in 1999 and has for several years overseen sales for the U.S. and all other English-speaking territories as well as Northern Europe. She will continue to run those territories, but will now supervise the entire sales division. In turn, Wild Bunch co-founder and longtime sales chief Vincent Maraval will devote more focus to acquisitions and productions; although he will continue to handle sales in France and Japan, among others.

Elle Driver Reteams With Kashyap On ‘Ugly’
Paris-based sales company Elle Driver has boarded Anurag Kashyap’s Directors’ Fortnight title Ugly. The company previously handled Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur, which was in the Fortnight last year. Psychological thriller and emotional drama Ugly is the story of a police commissioner whose step-daughter disappears one day while in the care of her biological father. A remorseless succession of blame and one-upmanship ensues. The Hindi film is produced by Phantom Films and Dar Motion Pictures. Kashyap will be busy in Cannes this year between Ugly, the gala screening of Bombay Talkies, to which he contributed a section, and the respective Midnight and Critics’ Week screenings of Monsoon Shootout and The Lunchbox, both of which he co-produced.

Studiocanal Finds ‘Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared
Studiocanal will handle international sales on Felix Herngren’s upcoming feature The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared. The quirky tale is based on the bestseller by Swedish author Jonas Jonasson. Disney Nordic is releasing in Scandinavia on Christmas Day while TeleMunchen has Germany and Austria, and Wild Bunch has Benelux. Studiocanal will distribute in France, the UK and Australia and will sell the rest of the world. The Nice FLX Pictures production finds Allan Karlsson in a nursing home – and in good health – on his 100th birthday. When Allan escapes, he embarks on an unexpected journey, involving a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot-dog stand operator and an elephant. His extraordinary life story, which includes dining with Franco, Stalin, Truman and more, is told in parallel.

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