K.T Simpson
Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson and Academy Award-winner Casey Affleck are set to star in BAFTA nominee Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s upcoming drama “The Friend”, written by Brad Ingelsby and based on Matthew Teague’s National Magazine Award-winning article first published in Esquire Magazine. Scott Free Productions and Black Bear Pictures will produce with Ridley Scott executive producing. The film will start shooting on location this February in Fairhope, Alabama, in the town where the Teague family resided.
STXinternational, a division of STX Entertainment, have acquired international rights for the highly anticipated film and will present the project to buyers at the 2019 European Film Market. The Friend marks the most recent collaboration for STXinternational and Black Bear Pictures, having previously partnered on the upcoming “The Marsh King’s Daughter”, and with Scott Free, having previously collaborated on “All the Money in the World”.
“The Friend” tells the extraordinary true story of Nicole (Johnson) and Matthew Teague (Affleck) who, after learning that Nicole has just six months to live, receive the unexpected support of the couple’s best friend (Segel) who decides to move into their family home and put his own life on hold. His impact on everyone is much greater – and more profound – than anyone could have imagined.
Producers for Scott Free Productions are Kevin Walsh, Michael Pruss and Ryan Stowell alongside Black Bear Pictures’ Teddy Schwarzman. Ridley Scott will executive produce along with Black Bear’s Ben Stillman and Michael Heimler. Ingelsby, Teague and Ted Deiker will also serve as Executive Producers. Scott Free’s Rebecca Feuer will be an Associate Producer. Black Bear is set to fully finance.
“I’m thrilled and honored to see the story come to life this way, thanks to the filmmaking vision of Gabriela Cowperthwaite and a script that Brad Ingelsby and I worked on closely together. It captures what’s at the heart of the story: deep love and loss, and the saving grace of friendship,” said Matthew Teague, author of the National Magazine Award-winning article which the screenplay is based on. “To have the talents of Dakota Johnson, Jason Segel and Casey Affleck help the story live on is remarkable. And I’m grateful to Scott Free and Black Bear, who have been both passionate and sensitive from day one. I hope the story gives people an honest glimpse of what it means to face mortality, and the value of having a true friend at your side, when that moment comes.”
“Black Bear is honored to have our first of hopefully many collaborations with Scott Free, to be back in business with our friends at STXinternational, and to support Gabriela, Matthew, Brad and this exceptional cast in bringing to the screen such a powerful and moving story,” said Teddy Schwarzman, producer and CEO of Black Bear Pictures.
“Occasionally you find yourself presented with the most incredible material that you know takes you into a whole different level of quality and potential. The Friend is that story for me and I am confident our partners will be blown away. Gabriela and the film team have assembled an incredible cast and crew and we can’t wait to see them bring this story to life.”
