EXCLUSIVE: Malcom McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) and Alex Hassell (Rivals) will star in crime thriller Dog & Bull, with Essential Film Group launching gross sales on pic on the EFM.
Written and directed by James Marquand (Dead Man’s Cards), the characteristic from Blackwater Pictures additionally stars Sinead Cusack (Napoleon), Lara Peake (How to Have Sex), Francis Magee (Layer Cake), Bobby Schofield (Cherry) and Paul Barber (The Full Monty). Tiernan Handy is producing together with Kevin Harvey, Simon Marriott and Antoine Dixon-Bellot, and Essential has boarded for worldwide gross sales.
Per the synopsis, Dog & Bull is billed as “a dark, hard-boiled crime-thriller, with black comedy undertones, in which legendary actor McDowell stars as a fugitive criminal hiding out as a pub landlord who questions his identity when he gets discovered by a psychotic hitman (Hassell), who is also his biggest fan.”
McDowell grew up because the son of a publican, who ran a pub referred to as the Bull and Dog in Lancashire, England. He’s recognized for the likes of The Raging Moon, Caligula, Blue Thunder, Mr. Magoo, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, The Artist and Bombshell. Since 2022, he has starred in Canadian sitcom Son of a Critch.
Hassell is using excessive off of Disney+’s soapy Eighties-set drama Rivals. He’s additionally had roles in Suburbicon, The Miniaturist, The Boys, Cowboy Bebop, His Dark Materials and Locked In.
Essential Film Group’s James Norrie stated, “Dog & Bull is a masterful re-invention of the British crime thriller, and the chemistry between the legendary Malcolm McDowell and superstar in the making Alex Hassell is nothing short of electric. We can’t wait for audiences to see it”.
“I am excited to be bringing a chainsaw wielding Malcolm McDowell to cinema screens, showing he is still ready for some ‘ultra violence,’” stated Kevin Harvey, whereas Tiernan Hanby added, “Essential Film Group are the perfect partner for this film — they have the exact mix of creative spark and commercial understanding to help shape and position the best version of the film.”
Blackwater can be producing the upcoming untitled Jimmy White biopic starring Ray Winstone and Anuerin Barnard, together with Heavyweight, which stars Jordan Bolger, Nicholas Pinnock and Jason Isaacs and releases later this 12 months.
Hassell is represented by United Agents, Gersh and Sol22. McDowell is represented by Chris Roe Management.