PAUL RUDD AND ALEXANDER SKARSGARD TO STAR IN DUNCAN JONES’
SCI-FI THRILLER “MUTE”
Lotus Entertainment to Executive Produce and Introduce to Foreign Buyers at AFM
LOS ANGELES (November 3, 2015) – Paul Rudd (ANT-MAN) will be joined by Alexander Skarsgard (TARZAN, TRUE BLOOD) in the title role, for the sci-fi thriller MUTE, which will be directed by BAFTA-winning director Duncan Jones (WARCRAFT, SOURCE CODE, MOON).
MUTE is based on a script by Jones and Mike Johnson and will be produced by Stuart Fenegan under Jones and Fenegan’s Liberty Films banner. Lotus Entertainment has come on board to handle international sales starting at the upcoming AFM. CAA who arranged for the financing is handling the domestic sale. Production is scheduled to start in March 2016. Lotus’ Bill Johnson, Jim Seibel, and Ara Keshishian will serve as executive producers.
Berlin. Forty years from today. A roiling city of immigrants, where East crashes against West in a science-fiction Casablanca. Leo Beiler (Skarsgard), a mute bartender has one reason and one reason only for living here, and she’s disappeared. But when Leo’s search takes him deeper into the city’s underbelly, an odd pair of American surgeons (led by Rudd) seem to be the only recurring clue, and Leo can’t tell if they can help, or who he should fear most.
Director Duncan Jones said: “I’ve been working towards making MUTE for 12 years now. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that we're finally going to shoot this utterly unique film. The fact that I get to make it with Alexander Skarsgard and Paul Rudd makes it all the more exciting! MUTE is a film that will last. It is unlike any other science fiction being made today."
Lotus Entertainment’s Jim Seibel said: "We're very excited to work with Duncan and Stuart. They are an immensely talented team that will surely deliver an exciting and cinematic film. Director Duncan Jones is a true visionary filmmaker and the real deal. It's his caliber of talent that makes storytelling both visually exciting and captivating."
Producer Stuart Fenegan said: “Bill, Jim and Ara share the same passion I do for building another vision of the future with Duncan. I look forward to going on this journey with them, and also reuniting with Sam Rockwell and composer Clint Mansell… can’t do sci-fi without Sam and Clint!”
President of Production Ara Keshishian negotiated the deal on behalf of Lotus.
Skarsgard recently wrapped production and David Yates’ TARZAN for Warner Bros. and is represented by CAA. Rudd completed CAPTIAN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR for Marvel Entertainment and Disney and is represented by UTA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Jones is represented by CAA.
Lotus Entertainment recently introduced Stevie Russell’s EXO starring Bella Thorne and Jack Kilmer and wrapped production on David Leveaux’s THE KAISER’S LAST KISS starring Lily James, Jai Courtney and Christopher Plummer and Xavier Gens’ THE CRUCIFIXION starring Sophie Cookson. The Lotus slate also includes: Sacha Gervasi’s NOVEMBER CRIMINALS with Chloë Grace Moretz and Ansel Elgort; Tanya Wexler’s REPLICAS starring Keanu Reeves; Luis Prieto’s KIDNAP starring Halle Berry; Tom Tykwer’s A HOLOGRAM FOR A KING starring Tom Hanks; and Scott Hicks’ FALLEN; and Shekhar Kapur’s epic adventure TIGER’S CURSE, based on the first in a series of New York Times bestselling novels.
About Liberty Films Entertainment
Liberty Films was founded in 2005 by Stuart Fenegan and Duncan Jones. Liberty Films is currently preparing for the release of WARCRAFT for Legendary Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment and Universal Pictures. The film, directed by Jones and produced by Fenegan, will be released in June 2016. The company’s past projects include Jones' feature directorial debut, MOON for which Jones won a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. The film starred Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey, and was produced by Fenegan. As well as the critically acclaimed SOURCE CODE starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which was also directed by Jones, co-produced by Fenegan and released by Summit Entertainment.
Currently in development under the Liberty banner Fenegan and Jones have an original Sci-Fi feature written by Jones, a fantasy television series written by Fenegan, as well as two more features with rising directorial talent.
About Lotus Entertainment
Lotus Entertainment is an international sales, production and financing company led by industry veterans Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson. They have arranged production financing on an expansive body of work over the past 10 years. With a focus on commercially viable star and concept driven projects and an experienced management team, Lotus is a top destination for first-class feature films offering additional services such as packaging, development, marketing, and delivery.
