Famke Janssen, Michael Nyqvist to Star in Thriller ‘Every Good Boy Does Fine’

Jana Edelbaum and Rachel Cohen will produce the indie movie, which 13 Films will sell at Cannes

Michael Nyqvist (“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) and Famke Janssen (“X-Men,” “Taken”) are set to star in the Hitchcockian thriller “Every Good Boy Does Fine,” it was announced today by producers Jana Edelbaum and Rachel Cohen of iDeal Partners Film Fund and Margo Klewans.

Emerging Finnish filmmaker AJ Annila (“Sauna”) will make his English-language feature film debut on the project, which Steve Buscemi and Wren Arthur of Olive Productions are executive producing with Tannaz Anisi, whose 13 Films will sell foreign rights at the Cannes Film Market.

Written by Jonathan Dees, “Every Good Boy Does Fine” is a taut thriller about a young boy name Brian who’s verging on adolescence, a little angry, and quite possibly a piano prodigy. However, he hates practicing and playing until he meets a music professor, Mr. Anderson. Elegant, sophisticated and brilliant, Mr. Anderson fixates on Brian and recognizes the untapped potential in the boy. He becomes Brian’s mentor and the father figure he needs. If only Brian didn’t increasingly suspect that Mr. Anderson is the serial killer that has been targeting musicians.

A classic cat-and-mouse story, “Every Good Boy Does Fine” is about artistic perfection, unrealized dreams and the terror that sometimes comes with finding one’s voice.

“We’ve been working hard on this project for several years and are thrilled that it has attracted such a talented group of artists to bring it to life,” said Edelbaum.

“‘Every Good Boy Does Fine’ is an original, sophisticated script full of suspense which is the perfect fit for helmer AJ Annila who has a unique visual style and loves to experiment with different genres. The producers have assembled a talented cast with Michael Nyqvist and Famke Janssen who both have appeared in successful studio franchises and bring commercial appeal to the project,” said Anisi.

Production will start in July, and the producers currently hold U.S. rights.

Best known as Mikael Blomkvist in the original Swedish adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Nyqvist’s recent credits include “John Wick” with Keanu Reeves and “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” with Tom Cruise. He’s represented by Authentic Talent in the U.S. and by Agentfirman Planthaber/Kilden/Mandicand in Sweden.

Janssen starred in 20th Century Fox’s “X-Men” and “Taken” franchises and has worked with acclaimed directors such as Woody Allen and R‎obert Altman. She can currently be seen on Netflix’s genre series “Hemlock Groves,” which is executive produced by Eli Roth. She’s repped by ICM Partners and Brookside Artists Management.

Annila made his feature film debut with the Kung Fu action movie “Jade Warrior” starring Jing Chu Zhang from “Rush Hour 3.” The movie made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and had a U.S. release via Lionsgate. His sophomore feature, the horror film “Sauna”, screened in multiple film festivals worldwide including Toronto and the Sitges International Film Festival, and was released by IFC Films domestically. He’s repped by ICM Partners and Echo Lake Management.

13 Films will also bring the documentary feature film “Pump” to international buyers in Cannes. The film takes an eye-opening look at America’s addiction to oil, from its corporate conspiracy beginnings to its current monopoly today, and explains clearly and simply how we can end it. “Pump” will make its market premiere screening on Wednesday, May 13.

Boosting its sales ranks as the company continues to expand, Anisi will be supported by newly-appointed director of international sales Juliana Lubin and existing director Jae-woo Kim. Lubin joins the company from The Exchange, where she was manager of international sales for nearly two years. Prior to The Exchange, she worked at Verve Talent & Literary Agency.

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