EXCLUSIVE: James McAvoy‘s directorial debut, which we revealed last fall, has set lead solid and is heading to the Cannes market with Bankside and UTA Impartial Movie Group.
BAFTA winner McAvoy will tackle a supporting function within the film, which might be led by BAFTA-nominated How To Have Intercourse breakout Samuel Bottomley and newcomer Séamus McLean Ross, who’s at present filming on Outlander: Blood of My Blood.
At the moment titled California Schemin’ (working title), the movie will chart the true story of two Scottish lads from Dundee who conned the worldwide music trade by adopting American accents and pretending to be established Californian rap duo, Silibil N’ Brains.
Within the late 90’s, Gavin Bain (McLean Ross) and Billy Boyd (Bottomley) had their musical ambitions persistently ridiculed for having the ‘incorrect’ accents so that they went for broke and reinvented themselves as Californian rappers. McAvoy’s film will present how the duo re-recorded their very own tracks with pretend accents and turned up in London claiming to be a longtime duo on the Cali scene in addition to childhood associates with Eminem. They rapidly bagged themselves a file deal, a hefty sum in advances, and an look on MTV…till all of it got here crashing down.
At the moment in pre-production, the characteristic relies on Bain’s autobiography of the identical identify, which was later re-printed as Straight Outta Scotland. The story was later tailored into 2013 SXSW documentary The Nice Hip Hop Hoax.
Archie Thomson (Deep State 2) tailored the screenplay, and Kahleen Crawford might be serving as casting director. Pic is produced by Scottish producer Man J. Louthan of Ransom Movies (The Name), and Danny Web page of Homefront Productions. Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Inexperienced will function govt producers for Bankside Movies.
Bankside Movies might be introducing the movie to patrons on the Cannes Movie Pageant and are dealing with worldwide gross sales, whereas UTA Impartial Movie Group is repping North America.
Break up, X-Males and The Final King Of Scotland star McAvoy stated: “I’m proud to make my directorial debut with a really Scottish meets Hollywood story, utilizing Scottish expertise each in entrance of and behind the digital camera. California Schemin’ is a real story about friendship, rap and wonderful failure that beggars perception and provides us the chance to do all of this. Archie Thomson’s wealthy adaptation of this exceptional story captivated me and can attraction to audiences worldwide, and Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McClean Ross are a really particular couple of younger actors who possess all of those attributes and extra. I really feel privileged to be telling this story with them on my debut characteristic.”
Kelliher of Bankside Movies added: “We will’t wait to deliver the mind-blowing story of Silibil N’ Brains to the large display. Their astounding story of ambition and dedication delivers good leisure while being humorous, poignant and finally shifting. We’ve religion that James and his fantastic solid will create a really particular movie which can go away audiences open mouthed as they bear witness to one of many largest scams in music historical past.”
McAvoy will subsequent be seen in Blumhouse horror Converse No Evil.
McAvoy is represented by UTA, United Brokers, and Sloane Supply. Man J. Louthan can be repped by UTA. Séamus McLean Ross is represented by Clarence Conway of Impartial Expertise. Samuel Bottomley is represented by Ellie Martin-Sperry at 42mp. Archie Thomson is represented by Nick Fenwick at Curtis Brown.
