Picturestart and Picture Perfect Federation have hired JC Lee to direct the English remake of the Thai hit Evil genius and also announced key players, as well as a series of international pre-sales.
Lee is also writing the English-language script, with Julius Onah already announced to direct. The pair previously collaborated on the 2019 Sundance title fancyadapted from Lee’s original play of the same name.
Up and coming talent Callina Liang, star of ITVX teen drama tell me everythingand Jabari Banks (Bel-Air) will join veteran British actor Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange in the multiverse of madness).
The English remake is touted as a high-octane thriller about a diverse group of young people who band together to fight the system of injustice and inequality and dismantle the manipulated academic institutions around them.
It is produced by Erik Feig and Jessica Switch at Picturestart with Patrick Wachsberger and Ashley Stern at Picture Perfect Federation. Little Ray Media Company owned by NBA heiress Mallory Edens.
The project is produced by Edens, Picturestart’s Julia Hammer and Wong.
The film, which begins production in May, has already been sold to a number of key distributors including Australia (NZ Roadshow), France (Metropolitan), Germany (Constantin), Italy (Leone), Japan (Gaga), Latin America ( Sun), Scandinavia (Nordisk), Spain (Tripictures), Great Britain (Studio Canal), Benelux (Belgium), Middle East (Front Row) and Eastern Europe (Monolith)
“I’m so excited to bring a new perspective to an already hugely successful and remarkable film,” said Lee. “I can’t wait to work with this amazing, innovative group of artists and draw on our diverse real-life experiences to create a film as exciting and entertaining as the original.”
“So much fun to this issue of Evil genius, a topical and cool movie that we love. Add to that a talent as unique and fit for the job as JC Lee, along with Benedict, newcomers Callina and Jabari and our new partner Mallory Edens, and you have a title we are very happy with.” Feig and Wachsberger.
Edens said she fell in love with the project because of the way the female lead, Lynn, was written.
“She is a worthy protagonist because she is a young woman who is very intelligent, independent and courageous. She also has major flaws: as the title suggests, she does ‘bad’ things,” Edens said.
“This is the kind of female character I wish I’d seen more of growing up and I’m really excited to be working with Picturestart and the Picture Perfect Federation to bring Lynn’s story to film audiences.”
The original film titled Chard games Goengwas written and directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya and produced by the Thai film studio GDH 559 Company Limited.
Upon its release in May 2017, the film topped the Thai box office. It became the domestic film of the year and broke box office records in several other Asian countries, including China, making it the highest-grossing Thai film of all time internationally.
Evil genius is Lee’s directorial debut after taking over writing and producing credits fancy How The morning program, How to get away with murderAnd Search.
Liang is represented by Authentic Talent and Literary Management, Payne Management in the UK and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
Banks, who appears as The Fresh Prince on Peacock’s hit series Call airis repped by WME, Frontline Management and Granderson Des Rochers.
Wong, whose other credits include Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Martian And kick ass 2is represented by Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman.
James McGough and Christina Tajalli negotiated the deal on behalf of Picturestart. Weintraub Tobin’s Alan Grodin negotiated the deal on behalf of Picture Perfect Federation. Andrew Kramer of Loeb & Loeb represents Little Ray Media. Lee is repped by CAA, LBI Entertainment’s Chris Donnelly and Paul Hastings’ Erik Hyman.
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
