K.T Simpson
Academy Award-winner Gary Oldman (“Darkest Hour”, “The Dark Knight”) and Golden Globe-nominees Armie Hammer (“Call Me By Your Name”, “The Social Network”) and Evangeline Lilly (“Antman and The Wasp”, “The Hurt Locker”) are set to star in the first theatrical film to tackle the international opioid crisis, Nicholas Jarecki‘s (“Arbitrage”) dramatic thriller from his original script, “Dreamland”. Principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit. Acclaimed German actress Veronica Ferres also stars.
Lisa Wilson handles foreign sales through her Solution Entertainment Group and will offer the film to buyers at EFM. William Morris Endeavor represents US rights with LGNA Legal.
In “Dreamland”, three stories about the world of opioids collide: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the US, an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics, and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market— all in a thinking person’s gangster tale of high and low.
“Dreamland” is written and directed by Jarecki as his follow up to the critically acclaimed breakout hit, Arbitrage, the highest grossing independent film to be released “day and date” in cinema history, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for its star, Richard Gere.
“The devastating impact of the opioid crisis reaches all corners of society,” said Jarecki. “Gary, Armie, and Evangeline are the perfect performers to bring the human face of this epidemic to audiences everywhere.”
Oldman won the 2018 Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in “Darkest Hour”. Hammer was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in Sony Pictures Classics’ “Call Me by Your Name”. Evangeline Lilly was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the ABC smash television series “Lost”. They have toplined films that have collectively grossed billions of dollars worldwide including Marvel’s “Ant Man and the Wasp” and DC’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy.
Producers are Jarecki and Cassian Elwes (“Dallas Buyers Club”) who financed together through Jarecki’s Green Room Films and its continuing relationship with MUFG Union Bank.
The film is an official Canadian-Belgian co-production of LODP Inc. and Bideford Productions. Jonathan Vanger and Karl Richards are the co-producers.
Michael Suppes and Tony Hsieh executive produce along with Douglas Urbanski. Mohammed Al Turki, Lisa Wilson, William Rosenfeld, Sam Slater, and David Bernon also executive produce. Co-executive producers are Kean Cronin, Robert Kapp, and Samuel Reich.
The film is a production of Green Room Films in association with Tuesday Films, Matisse Pictures, Construction Film GmbH, and Burn Later Productions.
