Japan’s leading actor Yōsuke Kubozuka who can next be seen in Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated SILENCE is attached to star alongside three-time Emmy Award nominee Elizabeth Banks (THE HUNGER GAMES franchise, PITCH PERFECT 2) in Sloane U’Ren’s adventure drama RITA HAYWORTH WITH A HAND GRENADE, it was announced today by Radiant Films International’s President and CEO, Mimi Steinbauer.
Start of Principal Photography is slated to begin Fall 2016.
Foreign sales are being handled by Radiant Films International. UTA Independent Film Group is handling North American rights.
Set in World War II, Caroline Baker (Banks), one of the first female war photographers, is shot down and stranded on a South Pacific island where the only other inhabitant is a marooned Japanese soldier (Kobuzuka). As history passes them by, the two evolve from sworn enemies to reluctant allies in a 30-year battle against the forces of nature and their inescapable circumstances.
“Yōsuke is one of Japan’s most exciting and well known actors and set to become an international star following his haunting performance in SILENCE. He is perfect casting for our leading man opposite Elizabeth Banks and we are excited to have him attached," said Steinbauer.
Robert Graf (HAIL, CAESAR!, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) is producing the film. Sloane U’Ren is directing her sophomore feature film after having honed her skills working on studio blockbusters such as Warner Bros.’ BATMAN BEGINS and HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE. The screenplay was written by Antony Neely.
Yōsuke Kubozuka co-stars with Liam Neeson, Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming SILENCE for Paramount Pictures. Widely popular in his home country of Japan, Kubozuka has won the hearts of fans and critics alike during his stellar career. He has won numerous accolades including two Awards from the Japanese Academy (Japan’s Oscars) for his performance in the box office hit GO.
ABOUT RADIANT FILMS INTERNATIONAL:
Founded by international sales veteran, Mimi Steinbauer, who is President and CEO, Radiant Films International, is an international sales company funded through private equity sources which acquires and distributes theatrical feature films.
In addition to RITA HAYWORTH WITH A HAND GRENADE, Radiant's current slate includes the romantic comedy CARRIE PILBY starring Bel Powley (THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL) and produced by Suzanne Farwell (THE INTERN) and Susan Cartsonis (WHAT WOMEN WANT), the action thriller drama JUVENILES starring Beau Knapp and Stephen Moyer (HBO’s “True Blood”) in post-production, LONDON TOWN starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, the horror film NO SUCH THING and THE DRIFTLESS AREA starring Anton Yelchin and Zooey Deschanel.
Other titles include the action thriller TAKE DOWN directed by Jim Gillespie and starring Ed Westwick, Jeremy Sumpter, Phoebe Tonkin and Sebastian Koch, DARE TO BE WILD starring Emma Greenwell (“Shameless”) and Tom Hughes (BBC2’s “The Game”) which was named one of the Audience Award Winners at the 2015 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, IFC Films’ release HUNGRY HEARTS starring Adam Driver and Alba Rohrwacher who both won Coppa Volpi Awards at the Venice Film Festival and MADAME BOVARY starring Mia Wasikowska, Ezra Miller and Paul Giamatti, which was released in the U.S. by Alchemy.