LONDON – Julius Avery’s Australian crime thriller Son of a Gun -- starring Ewan McGregor -- will be touted to buyers during the American Film Market with a shoot start date in early 2013.
The movie, billed as a visceral, tautly-paced heist thriller, centers on a complex relationship between Australia’s public enemy No. 1 (McGregor) and his young protégé.
It will be sold to North American buyers by UTA Independent Film Group and by high-profile U.K. start-up sales, finance and production banner Altitude Film Entertainment internationally.
Hopscotch/eOne has inked a deal for Australian and New Zealand rights.
STORY: Ewan McGregor Receives Donostia Award at San Sebastian
Avery will direct the film, based on his own original screenplay, with Timothy White (Two Hands) producing through Australian banner Southern Light Films.
Aaron L. Gilbert of Media House Capital serves as executive producer.
Altitude Film Sales managing director Mike Runagall said Avery's film combines the "tension and intensity of Animal Kingdom with the epic sweep of Heat."
Finance is being provided by Media House Capital and ScreenWest for the movie slated to shoot on location in Perth and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in early 2013.
Avery is being cited as the next break-out director following in the footsteps of David Michod and Justin Kurzel.
Avery is repped by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Bryce Menzies at Australian attorneys Marshalls & Dent.
McGregor is currently in production on John Wells's adaptation of August: Osage County opposite Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. McGregor will also star in Warner Bros.’ Jack the Giant Killer, in 2013 a modern take on the popular fable, Jack and the Beanstalk, directed by Bryan Singer.
He is repped by UTA, United Agents in the U.K. and Robert Offer of Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
