FILMNATION ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES WORLDWIDE RIGHTS AND WILL FULLY FINANCE JUDD APATOW PRODUCTION THE BIG SICK
Silicon Valley’s KUMAIL NANJIANI TO STAR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MICHAEL SHOWALTER
NEW YORK, NY (December 4, 2015) - FilmNation Entertainment announced that it has acquired worldwide rights and will fully finance THE BIG SICK, which will be produced by Judd Apatow with Barry Mendel through Apatow Productions (TRAINWRECK, THIS IS 40, BRIDESMAIDS). Stand-up comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley) will star in the film. Based on true events in their lives, Nanjiani wrote the script with his wife, writer/producer Emily V. Gordon. Michael Showalter, who helmed the 2015 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award winner HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS starring Sally Field, will direct.
In addition to his role as ‘Dinesh’ on HBO’s award-winning comedy Silicon Valley, Nanjiani is also a writer, executive producer and co-host of Comedy Central’s The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail. His many memorable comedic roles include the films THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT (also produced by Apatow), SEX TAPE and HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2. He will next be seen in the upcoming films HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES and FIST FIGHT. On the television side, Nanjiani is also recurring on IFC’s Portlandia, and will have a guest role on the upcoming return of The X-Files on Fox.
Gordon is the author of the recently released book Super You: Release Your Inner Superhero, writer on NBC’s The Carmichael Show and executive producer of The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail.
Said director Michael Showalter, “I am so thrilled and honored to be working with Judd Apatow, FilmNation, Kumail and Emily on this incredible story about true love and identity.”
FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner said, “THE BIG SICK is supremely funny and human and relatable on so many levels. With a comedic dream team led by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Michael Showalter and Kumail Nanjiani, audiences worldwide are going to laugh their asses off. I know I did.”
FilmNation Entertainment will handle all international sales. UTA Independent Film Group packaged the film and brokered the deal with FilmNation Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers and will handle U.S. rights.
Nanjiani and Gordon are represented by UTA, Mosaic, and attorney Isaac Dunham.
Apatow is represented by UTA, Mosaic and Ziffren Brittenham.
Showalter is represented by UTA, Principato Young and Stone Meyer.
ABOUT FILMNATION ENTERTAINMENT
FilmNation Entertainment is a leading distributor, financier and producer of independent films and is a destination for many of the world's most renowned filmmakers including Steven Soderbergh, Terrence Malick, Pedro Almodóvar, Woody Allen, Jonathan Glazer, Sofia Coppola, Jeff Nichols, J.C. Chandor, Rian Johnson, Anton Corbijn, Morten Tyldum, Lenny Abrahamson, Denis Villeneuve, and John Lee Hancock amongst many others. Since being founded in 2008 by veteran film executive Glen Basner, FilmNation has established itself as a home for specialty filmmaking with global appeal by focusing on a highly selective group of filmmakers and projects that emphasize both creative integrity and commercial potential. FilmNation is consistently ranked as one of the highest-grossing independent international film distributors, has become a prolific and respected producer, and its titles are amongst the most critically lauded in the film industry.
FilmNation produced two films in 2015 including Denis Villeneuve’s STORY OF YOUR LIFE to star Amy Adams and John Lee Hancock’s THE FOUNDER to star Michael Keaton- both to release in 2016. The company is in development on THE GOOD HOUSE to star Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro; among others.
FilmNation’s previous and upcoming sales line-up showcases the work of many of today’s most exciting, established and up-and-coming filmmakers including: Academy Award winning THE IMITATION GAME starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley; Woody Allen’s IRRATIONAL MAN; Academy Award Best Picture winner THE KING’S SPEECH; Alexander Payne’s NEBRASKA; MR. HOLMES starring Ian McKellen; Terrence Malick’s KNIGHT OF CUPS starring Christian Bale and Natalie Portman; GENIUS starring Colin Firth, Jude Law and Nicole Kidman; Pedro Almodóvar’s THE SKIN I LIVE IN, LOS AMANTES PASAJEROS and SILENCIO; among many others.
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Press Contact: Selena Saldana, +1-219-902-3054, [email protected]