Michelle Pfeiffer, Kiefer Sutherland to Star in ‘Beat-Up Little Seagull’ for Killer Films
Christine Vachon is producing the Andrew Dosunmu-helmed drama.
Michelle Pfeiffer is taking an indie turn.
The actress, who has worked almost exclusively in studio films throughout her career, will star opposite Kiefer Sutherland in the drama Beat-Up Little Seagull for Killer Films and financier Great Point Media.
Mother of George helmer Andrew Dosunmu is directing from a screenplay written by Darci Picoult.
Beat-Up Little Seagull follows the life of a sensitive and fragile woman (Pfeiffer) who struggles to find footing in a fast-paced world. When her mother dies, she faces a crisis in which she must find a means for survival, all the while hiding her struggles from her new lover (Sutherland).
Dosunmu and Picoult, who collaborated on Mother of George, wrote the story together. Filming will begin Nov. 2 in New York.
Killer Films has been on a roll as of late, with the drama Still Alice becoming both a specialty box-office hit (earning $42 million worldwide) and an Oscar winner (star Julianne Moore nabbed the best actress prize). The New York-based indie company also produced HBO’s Emmy-winning miniseries Mildred Pierce, as well as this year’s awards-season hopeful Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.
Killer Films’ Christine Vachon is producing alongside David Hinojosa and Rhea Scott. Jim Reeve, Robert Halmi Jr., Dosunmu and Picoult are executive producing.
Pfeiffer, who once flirted with the starring role in Still Alice, is currently shooting HBO’s Bernie Madoff film The Wizard of Lies, in which she plays Ruth Madoff.
Sutherland most recently starred opposite his father, Donald Sutherland, in the father-son Western Forsaken, which debuted last month at the Toronto Film Festival. The 24 star also appeared in last year’s big-budget action drama Pompeii.
Dosunmu’s Mother of George was a critical darling at the Sundance Film Festival, where it debuted in 2013. He also is attached to direct the Steve McQueen-penned biopic Fela, with Chiwetel Ejiofor starring as Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti.
Pfeiffer and Sutherland are repped by CAA and Management 360. Pfeiffer is additionally handled by attorney Barry Hirsch, while Sutherland is additionally represented by attorney James Feldman. Dosunmu is repped by CAA and attorney André Des Rochers. Picoult is represented by APA.
Source: Tatiana Siegel, The Hollywood Reporter
