Rupert Friend will make his feature directorial debut and star in BARTON & CHARLIE & CHECCO & BILL, which will be co-financed by Bron Studios and Fortitude International in association with Creative Wealth Media Finance, it was announced today.
Emily Blunt is in negotiations to co-star. Friend wrote the script and will produce alongside Aaron L. Gilbert of Bron Studios and Margot Hand. Fortitude’s Nadine de Barros and Robert Ogden Barnum and Creative Wealth’s Jason Cloth are executive producers. The film is scheduled to commence principal photography in Spring of 2015.
Fortitude’s co-principal Nadine de Barros and Vice President of International Katie Irwin will kick-off sales at the American Film Market. CAA packaged and is handling domestic rights.
Stuck in a rut, a grifter meets a woman who just might change everything, and offers to teach her the tricks of his trade. She turns the tables on him and they embark on a road trip adventure of con-artistry, disguise, lies and love. They are pursued by the shadowy Bill, a Confederate newspaper mogul with handmade suits and a secret in his heart. Along for the ride is Checco, a 10-year old Mexican boy with an old soul, who, more than any of them, seems to know what really matters…
Friend is well known to television viewers from his Emmy-nominated role in HOMELAND. He and Blunt appeared together as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in THE YOUNG VICTORIA, and he will play the title role in Fox’s 2015 summer franchise HITMAN:AGENT 47.
Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt will be seen this Christmas in Disney’s film adaptation of INTO THE WOODS and next year alongside Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin in Lionsgate’s SICARIO. She recently appeared opposite Tom Cruise in EDGE OF TOMORROW.