Dev Patel is set to make his directorial debut in the action revenge film, “Monkey Man,” in which the “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Lion” actor will also star.
Endeavor Content is handling worldwide sales and will present the project to buyers at the American Film Market.
Patel developed the script with S’ya Concept, and he co-wrote with Paul Angunawela and John Collee, who also worked on Patel’s upcoming “Hotel Mumbai.” Basil Iwanyk of Thunder Road is producing along with Xeitgeist’s Joe Thomas, Samarth Sahni and Patel.
Production will begin in spring of 2019 in Mumbai.
Steeped in mythology but set in a vibrant modern India, “Monkey Man” follows the Kid (Patel), who emerges from prison to take on a world enmeshed in corporate greed and eroding spiritual values.
“‘Monkey Man’ is a vibrant, thrilling and above all entertaining story and we are excited to be teaming up with Dev, who has great creative instincts making him a natural director,” said Iwanyk in a statement.
“‘Monkey Man’ is filled with vivid characters and thrilling action scenes and Dev’s precise vision of a stylized and highly energetic genre film will appeal to audiences around the world,” said Alex Walton, EVP, International Film Sales and Distribution at Endeavor Content.
Chung-hoon Chung (“It,” “The Handmaiden,” “Old Boy”) will serve as director of photography. 87Eleven, who worked on all three “John Wick” films and “Atomic Blonde,” will choreograph and design action sequences for the film.
Patel recently completed filming “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” starring Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie, and he will next be seen in “Hotel Mumbai,” which will be released in 2019 by Bleecker Street, and “The Wedding Guest,” which IFC is releasing in Spring of 2019.
Patel is repped by WME, Magnolia, Curtis Brown Group and Jamie Feldman.