Dev Patel will make his directorial debut with “Monkey Man.” The “Slumdog Millionaire” star will also act in the revenge thriller, which is being presented to buyers at this year’s American Film Market.
“Monkey Man” centers on the Kid (Patel), who emerges from prison to grapple with a world marred by, in the words of the logline, “corporate greed and eroding spiritual values.” The release announcing the project was slim on plot details beyond saying that the film is set in modern-day India, but also deals with mythology.
Patel, an Oscar nominee for “Lion,” co-wrote the script with Paul Angunawela and John Collee. Endeavor Content is handling worldwide sales. Basil Iwanyk of Thunder Road is producing, along with Xeitgeist’s Joe Thomas, Samarth Sahni, and Patel. Chung-hoon Chung (“It”) will serve as director of photography, with production set to start in spring of 2019 in Mumbai. 87Eleven, known for orchestrating the high-energy fight sequences in “Atomic Blonde” and “John Wick,” will choreograph and design the movie’s action scenes.
Patel’s upcoming films include “The Personal History of David Copperfield” and “Hotel Mumbai.” He is repped by WME, Magnolia, Curtis Brown Group, and Jamie Feldman.
AFM will take place in Santa Monica from Wednesday until Nov 7.