Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine will star in Harry and the Butler, to be directed by George C. Wolfe (Lackawanna Blues), it was announced today by producers Philippe Rivier of Spirit Films and Colin Callender of Playground Entertainment. The film, written by Damian F. Slattery, will start shooting on location in Louisiana in spring 2014.
Harry and the Butler is the story of Harry (Jackson), a one-time jazz virtuoso living in New Orleans who has given up on his dreams and now spends his days as the mechanic for a derelict rollercoaster and his nights in his makeshift home a converted train caboose. When his former mentor bequeaths him a large sum of money, Harry in a drunken celebration decides to hire himself an aging, down-on-his-luck English butler (Caine) an act of impetuous generosity that changes their lives forever.
Mimi Steinbauers Radiant Films International is handling foreign rights and will introduce the project to buyers at the American Film Market this week. CAA/ICM Partners arerepresenting North American rights.
“We are very proud to bring together these two great movie icons, Sam Jackson and Michael Caine, under the direction of the great George C. Wolfe. ‘Harry and the Butler’ follows in the honorable tradition of so many classic films in which a chance encounter between two disparate characters transforms them forever. This is a deeply moving comedy about two men from very different backgrounds whobecome unlikely friends and help each other to re-discover themselves, said producers Philippe Rivier and Colin Callender.
The great Sam Jackson and the legendary Michael Caine instantly elevate any project they are in and combined, their exceptional talent will make for great chemistry on screen in this moving, humorous story. We expect buyers to embrace this touching and heartwarming film at AFM,” said Mimi Steinbauer.
(Photos by Getty Images)
