LIONSGATE UK ACQUIRES UK RIGHTS TO ARMANDO IANNUCCI’S THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
May 10th, 2018
LIONSGATE UK ACQUIRES UK RIGHTS TO ARMANDO IANNUCCI’S THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
For Immediate release. London, 10th May, 2018. Lionsgate UK announced today that they have acquired the UK rights to the retelling of the Charles Dickens classic to be directed by award winning filmmaker Armando Iannucci. Dev Patel is cast as Copperfield, and joining him will be Peter Capaldi, Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Ben Whishaw, Aneurin Barnard, Morfydd Clark, Anthony Welsh and Rosalind Eleazar. Kevin Loader and Iannucci will produce the feature, which was developed with FilmNation. It was written by Iannucci (Emmy Award winning creator of Veep) and fellow Academy Award® nominee Simon Blackwell (IN THE LOOP) based on Charles Dickens’ novel. Principal photography is expected to begin in June in the UK. FilmNation Entertainment will handle international sales and co-rep US sales with UTA Independent Film Group.
A fresh and distinctive take on Dickens’ semi-autobiographical masterpiece, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD chronicles the life of its iconic title character as he navigates a chaotic world to find his elusive place within it. From his unhappy childhood to the discovery of his gift as a storyteller and writer, David’s journey is by turns hilarious and tragic, but always full of life, color, and humanity.
“The combination of Armando’s writing and directing and the source material of a classical masterpiece is a project that is irresistible to us” comments Zygi Kamasa, CEO, Lionsgate UK, “add to that a renowned team behind the camera and a diverse and talented cast and you have a film guaranteed to excite audiences to add to our slate.”
“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Lionsgate in the UK to be making this wonderful story about poverty and riches, and friendship and loss,” comments Armando Iannucci. “With such an amazing and immense cast, ‘David Copperfield’ is The Infinity War of the 1840s. I’m so glad to be reuniting with many of the talented crew behind ‘The Death of Stalin’ to make it.”
For further information please contact:
Lorna Mann
LMann@lionsgatefilms.co.uk
About Lionsgate
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world. In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies. Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a 16,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global licensing infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base.