eOne secures Captain Fantastic rights; new cast added

Entertainment One has secured the international rights to Captain Fantastic, the upcoming comedy-drama starring Viggo Mortensen, written and directed by Matt Ross. WME Global represents US rights.

eOne will handle sales of the film in all territories outside of the US, as well as directly distribute Captain Fantastic in the UK, Canada and Australia/New Zealand.

It has also been revealed that Steve Zahn, Kathryn Hahn, Missi Pyle and Erin Moriarty have joined the film’s cast, which also features Frank Langella and rising stars George MacKay, Annalise Basso, Samantha Isler, Nicholas Hamilton, Shree Crooks and Charlie Shotwell.

Producers are Electric City Entertainment’s Lynette Howell and Jamie Patricof alongside ShivHans Pictures’ Shivani Rawat and Nimitt Mankad. Rawat is also financing the film via ShivHans Pictures. Executive producer is ShivHans’ Monica Levinson. 

Van Lier and Lara Thompson, evp of filmed entertainment, negotiated the deal on behalf of eOne, with Mankad on behalf of ShivHans and the filmmakers.

The film began production in July in Washington and New Mexico.

Captain Fantastic centres on a father (Mortensen), who is so devoted to teaching his six children how to live, be free, and survive in the world that he has moved them deep into the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

He spends his days teaching them combat skills, training them like professional athletes, homeschooling them in a rigorous classical education, and introducing them to the natural world. But when he is forced to leave and confront the real world, the resulting journey challenges his unorthodox parenting.

eOne International president Harold van Lier said: “We are thrilled to continue our relationship with ShivHans following the successful launch of Trumbo in Cannes.

“This is a project we all fell in love with and was voted best script of 2014 by our distribution teams on the ground. It is a very original story, both funny and deeply emotional and a wonderful role for Viggo.

“I don’t think we have read anything like it since Little Miss Sunshine, but this is altogether very different.”

Zahn is best known for his roles in Rescue Dawn and Dallas Buyers Club, while Hahn’s recent credits include Bad Words, We’re the Millers and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. She recently completed production on Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland and M. Night Shyamalan Sundowning.

Pyle’s recently filmed David Fincher’s Gone Girl and was previously seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Artist. Moriarty is best known for her role on HBO’s True Detective playing Woody Harrelson’s troubled daughter. Her credits also include features Kings of Summer and The Watch, and she will next be seen in Crawlspace and Blood Father opposite Mel Gibson.

Zahn is represented by WME and Principal Entertainment. Hahn is represented by The Gersh Agency and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Pyle is represented by UTA and McKeon Myones Entertainment. Moriarty is represented by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment.