LONDON — Icon Film Distribution has acquired U.K. rights to Tom Tykwer’s comedic drama “A Hologram for the King,” which stars Tom Hanks.
Tykwer, who co-directed Hanks in “Cloud Atlas” with the Wachowski siblings, adapted the script to “Hologram” from the novel by Dave Eggers. Joining Hanks in the cast are Sarita Choudhury (“Homeland”), Omar Elba (“Intelligence”), Tracey Fairaway (“Enough Said”), David Menkin (“Zero Dark Thirty”) and Tom Skerritt (“Ted,” “Top Gun”).
The film is set in an up-and-coming Saudi Arabian city, which provides the backdrop for the last-ditch efforts by foundering American businessman Alan Clay (Hanks) to stave off bankruptcy, pay his daughter’s college fees, and accomplish something great. It is described as “a gentle, crazy, wistful ballad.”
Pic is in post-production, following shoots in Morocco, Germany, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
It is produced by Uwe Schott and Stefan Arndt of X Filme Creative Pool, who co-produced “Cloud Atlas,” Arcadiy Golubovich and Timothy D. O’Hair of Primeridian, and Gary Goetzman of Playtone.
Steven Shareshian of Playtone, Claudia Bluemhuber of Silver Reel, Gaston Pavlovich of Fabrica de Cine, Jim Seibel and Bill Johnson of Lotus Entertainment, and Dave Eggers are executive producers.
The deal was negotiated by Lotus co-chairman Jim Seibel and Icon Film Distribution CEO Ian Dawson.
The film is being sold internationally by Lotus, while CAA is representing North American rights.
