RADiUS-TWC has announced that it has acquired North American rights to A&E IndieFilms Supermensch: The Leged of Shep Gordon, Mike Myers’ directorial debut that celebrated its world premiere to rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival. The synopsis is as follows:
In 1991, music manager Shep Gordon held Mike Myers over a barrel a few weeks before shooting “Wayne’s World” regarding an Alice Cooper song Myers wanted to use in the film. They have been close friends ever since. Twenty-two years later, the story of Gordon’s legendary life in the uber fast lane is now told in Myers’ directorial debut. And this time it’s Myers who has Gordon over a barrel.
Capitalist, protector, hedonist, pioneer, showman, shaman . . . SUPERMENSCH.
Shep Gordon is the consummate Hollywood insider. Though he isnt a household name, Gordon has become a beacon in the industry, beloved by the countless stars he has encountered throughout his storied career. Shep is known for managing the careers of Alice Cooper as well as stints with Blondie, Luther Vandross and Raquel Welch, among others a career that began with a chance encounter in 1968 with Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. He even found time to invent the “Celebrity Chef.” Though the chef as star is part of the culture now, it took Shep’s imagination, and his moral outrage at how the chefs were being treated, to monetize the culinary arts into the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. Personal friends with the Dalai Lama through his philanthropic endeavors with the Tibet Fund and the guardian of four children, Gordon’s unlikely story told by those who know him best, his pals, including Alice Cooper, Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Anne Murray, Willie Nelson, Emeril Lagasse and more.
A&E IndieFilms financed and executive produced the film. RADiUS has slated a first quarter 2014 theatrical release.
According to RADiUS co-presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego: “‘Supermensch’ has been on our radar for a long time and we were blown away by it in Toronto. Mike Myers has created something truly special – – a film imbued with wit, charm, and heart. You can feel the love he has for his one-of-a-kind subject Shep Gordon, a legendary manager whose professional accomplishments are rivaled only by the magnanimous impact he’s had on the lives of those around him. This film is sure to bring audiences to their feet and inspire the mensch in all of us. We’re tremendously excited to be collaborating with Mike Myers, Shep Gordon and A&E IndieFilms .”
Myers went on to say: “I’m thrilled to have ‘Supermensch’ distributed by RADiUS-TWC who are the best in the business and who understand that this film is a tribute to a great man, Mr. Shep Gordon. Harvey Weinstein is a genius.”
After a fantastic reception at the Toronto International Film Festival, we are grateful to RADiUS-TWC and the Weinsteins for partnering with us to bring Mike Myers poignant and hilarious ‘Supermensch’ to audiences in theaters across the country,” said Executive Producer Bob DeBitetto, President of A+E Studios. “Mike, a true mensch himself, and his team put together an incredible film that deserves to be seen.”
