LOS ANGELES (November 3, 2015) – Paul Rudd (ANT-MAN) will be joined by Alexander Skarsgard (TARZAN,TRUE BLOOD) in the title role, for the sci-fi thriller MUTE, which will be directed by BAFTA-winning director Duncan Jones (WARCRAFT, SOURCE CODE, MOON).
MUTE is based on a script by Jones and Mike Johnson and will be produced by Stuart Fenegan under Jones’ and Fenegan’s Liberty Films banner. Lotus Entertainment has come on board to handle international sales starting at the upcoming AFM. CAA who arranged for the financing is handling the domestic sale. Production is scheduled to start in March 2016. Lotus’ Bill Johnson, Jim Seibel, and Ara Keshishian will serve as executive producers.
Berlin. Forty years from today. A roiling city of immigrants, where East crashes against West in a science-fiction Casablanca. Leo Beiler (Skarsgard), a mute bartender has one reason and one reason only for living here, and she’s disappeared. But when Leo’s search takes him deeper into the city’s underbelly, an odd pair of American surgeons (led by Rudd) seem to be the only recurring clue, and Leo can’t tell if they can help, or who he should fear most.
Director Duncan Jones said: “I’ve been working towards making MUTE for 12 years now. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that we’re finally going to shoot this utterly unique film. The fact that I get to make it with Alexander Skarsgard and Paul Rudd makes it all the more exciting! MUTE is a film that will last. It is unlike any other science fiction being made today.”
Lotus Entertainment’s Jim Seibel said: “We’re very excited to work with Duncan and Stuart. They are an immensely talented team that will surely deliver an exciting and cinematic film. Director Duncan Jones is a true visionary filmmaker and the real deal. It’s his caliber of talent that makes storytelling both visually exciting and captivating.”
Producer Stuart Fenegan said: “Bill, Jim and Ara share the same passion I do for building another vision of the future with Duncan. I look forward to going on this journey with them, and also reuniting with Sam Rockwell and composer Clint Mansell… can’t do sci-fi without Sam and Clint!”