Academy Award® and Golden Globe nominee Paul Schrader (First Reformed, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver) has cast Emmy Award winner Tiffany Haddish (Like a Boss, Girls Trip), Tye Sheridan (Ready Player One, Mud) and four-time Academy Award® nominee Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, At Eternity’s Gate, The Florida Project) to star with Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, Ex Machina, Show Me a Hero) in revenge thriller The Card Counter. Based on the original screenplay by Schrader who will also direct, The Card Counter is set to deliver another set of iconic characters from the filmmaker who is known for his engaging stories and masterful pacing. Academy Award® winner Martin Scorsese will executive produce; this marks the fifth collaboration between Schrader and Scorsese who previously worked together on Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Dead.
HanWay Films is handling international sales and distribution with David Gonzales of Northside Services and Endeavor Content overseeing the U.S. sale.
Braxton Pope (The Take, The Trust, City of Gold), Lauren Mann (Swiss Army Man) and David Wulf (Inheritance) are producing with William Olsson as executive producer. In addition it reunites the filmmaker with cinematographer Alexander Dynan and editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. who all worked together on First Reformed. Production leads also include costume designer Lisa Madonna (Regarding the Case of Joan of Arc) and production designer Ashley Fenton (Beatriz at Dinner).
Tell (Isaac) just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk (Sheridan), a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel (Dafoe). Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk. Gaining backing from mysterious gambling financier La Linda (Haddish), Tell takes Cirk with him on the road, going from casino to casino until the unlikely trio set their sights on winning a World Series of poker tournament. But keeping Cirk on the straight-and-narrow proves impossible, dragging Tell back into the darkness of his past.
Schrader commented, “Scorsese and I liked the symmetry of it, the reflection of a long association and mutual love of hand made films.”
Haddish is represented by Artists First and UTA, Sheridan is represented by Mosaic and WME and Dafoe by CAA and Circle of Confusion. Schrader is represented by David Gonzales of Northside Services and Isaac by WME and Inspire Entertainment. Both Sheridan and Isaac are also represented by attorney Mitch Smelkinson.
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ABOUT HANWAY FILMS
HanWay Films is a UK based international sales company specialising in quality, high-profile and commercially driven films from visionary and unique filmmakers around the world. Established in 1998 by producer Jeremy Thomas, HanWay offers full service solutions; arranging financing, sales, marketing and distribution. HanWay Films has long-term global producing partnerships and represents films from Recorded Picture Company along with projects from third party producers as well as the rights to an extensive film catalogue of over five hundred feature films.
HanWay’s slate includes Matteo Garrone’s PINOCCHIO starring Roberto Benigni and Andrew Levitas’ redemptive thriller MINAMATA starring Johnny Depp screening as Special Galas and THE ROADS NOT TAKEN by Sally Potter starring Javier Bardem, Elle Fanning and Salma Hayek screening in Competition at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival. The company also represents Jasmine McGlade’s FENCER starring Zoe Saldana; Julien Temple’s SHANE; Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut FALLING; Paul Schrader’s THE CARD COUNTER starring Oscar Isaac; Simon Barrett’s SEANCE starring Suki Waterhouse; THE SONG OF NAMES directed by Francois Girard and starring Tim Roth and Clive Owen; Robin Wright’s feature directorial debut LAND; John Patrick Shanley’s WILD MOUNTAIN THYME; Richard Press’ FARNSWORTH HOUSE; SAMURAI MARATHON, an action-led epic with a twist from director Bernard Rose starring Takeru Satoh and Nana Komatsu, and James D’Arcy’s heart-warming comedy MADE IN ITALY starring Liam Neeson and Micheál Richardson. For more information, please visit www.hanwayfilms.com
28.02.2020 | Berlin's blog
Cat. : PEOPLE