Rising star Drake Doremus will be directing hot ticket actors Lea Seydoux and Charlie Hunnam in his first big budget film, Zoe.
The filmmaker generated quite the buzz in Hollywood with the summer (16) release of his latest low-budget independent effort Equals, a futuristic drama starring Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult as sweethearts who fall in love after overcoming a disease that prevents the rest of society from feeling emotions.
Doremus' talent caught the eye of bosses at IM Global, a heavy-hitting media corporation worth over $200 million (£165 million), and they are fully funding his upcoming film, Zoe, with Seydoux and Hunnam attached to play the leads.
Citing himself as a deep admirer of Doremus' work, IM Global CEO Stuart Ford tells The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday (25Oct16), "With Zoe we feel as if he (Doremus) has come up with a potentially commercial and critical success, and he has already attached an outstandingly talented cast in Charlie and Lea. We’re genuinely excited about the film’s global box-office potential."
Although Drake's previous release Equals was a hit with critics, it was only screened at 92 theatres across the world, earning a lifetime box office gross profit of just $2 million (£1.6 million). Zoe's production budget has not yet been disclosed, but it is assumed with IM Global as the financial backer the forthcoming project will be issued funds greater than the $16 million (£13 million) he was handed for Equals.
Legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott will produce Zoe with Ford and his IM Global partners. Scott, who worked as Drake's executive producer on Equals, echoes Ford's sentiment about working on the new sci-fi project, noting, "We are delighted to be working with Drake again after what was a very satisfying experience making Equals together.
"He has assembled a fascinating cast for this next project and we are very much looking to continuing what has been a very successful collaboration."
Zoe centres on two scientific research lab colleagues who are focused on improving and perfecting relationships. As they continue their research, they make a profound discovery that alters life beyond their wildest dreams.
