Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple, Sister Act, Ghost) and Giancarlo Esposito (Okja, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Maze Runner: The Death Cure) have signed on to star alongside Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine) and Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Divorce) in the comedy of mistaken identity Shriver. Whoopi Goldberg and Giancarlo Esposito previously appeared together in the movie Monkeybone.
Content Media has acquired sales rights to the ensemble-led comedy and will be introducing the project to buyers for the first time in Cannes. Additional cast members are expected to join the project in the coming weeks.
Shriver tells the story of a loner mistaken for a renowned but reclusive author. He suddenly finds himself the center of attention at a writer’s conference celebrating the 20th anniversary of the book written by the real author. Shriver takes on the mistaken identity while sparking a romance with the English professor who runs the conference. He is about to pull it all off when the real Shriver appears leading to fantastic comedic crescendo.
Michael Maren (A Short History of Decay) is directing Shriver from a screenplay he wrote himself which is based on the novel by the same name written by Chris Belden.
Producing the film are Thruline’s Josh Kesselman (Death at a Funeral, Ashby) and Alfred Sapse (A Short History of Decay, Pound of Flesh).
Shriver is currently in pre-production and is scheduled to begin shooting later this year.
Jamie Carmichael, Content’s President of Film said, “From the very beginning we just loved the clever premise and I’m already imagining the laugh out loud moments that this superlative cast will deliver! We’re really excited to be working with Michael, Josh and Alfred on this wonderful comedy.”
Producers Sapse and Kesselman said: “It is great to be collaborating with Content on ‘Shriver.’ We feel we have found the perfect home for the film.”
