Johnson Heads to 'Tales'

Johnson Heads to 'Tales'

Universal Pictures International Holds Most Foreign Rights; Cherry Road Films and Darko Entertainment to Produce

LOS ANGELES, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cherry Road Films and Darko Entertainment announced today that Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) will star opposite Seann William Scott ("American Pie," "The Dukes of Hazzard") and Sarah Michelle Gellar ("The Grudge") in the science-fiction thriller "Southland Tales" for writer-director Richard Kelly ("Donnie Darko"). Sean McKittrick will produce under the Darko Entertainment banner he co-founded with Kelly. Cherry Road principals Bo Hyde and Kendall Morgan will produce. Executive producers are Matthew Rhodes and Judd Payne of Persistent Entertainment, Bill Johnson and Jim Seibel of Inferno Distribution, and Oliver Hengst of Academy Film Gmbh.

Principal photography is slated to begin on August 1 in Los Angeles. Cherry Road Films has officially greenlit the picture with co-financing from Universal Pictures International, Inferno Distribution and Wild Bunch, with Universal distributing in most foreign territories through the UIP banner, and Wild Bunch distributing in France, Benelux, Spain and Switzerland. Richard Klubeck of UTA is representing on the domestic front.

"Southland Tales" is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Johnson will star as Boxer Santaros, an action star stricken with amnesia whose life intertwines with Krysta Now (Gellar), an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and David Clark (Scott), a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.

"Dwayne, Seann and Sarah each have an adventurous spirit and I am honored that they have put their faith in me," said Kelly. "The film is going to be a strange hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. Dick."

Also joining the project are most of the key crew from "Donnie Darko," including director of photography Steven Poster ASC, production designer Alexander Hammond, costume designer April Ferry and editor Sam Bauer. Critically acclaimed artist and producer Moby will compose the music for the film.

In addition to the feature film, an expanded version of "Southland Tales" will be presented as a nine-part interactive experience with the prequel saga to be published as six separate 100 page graphic novels, each written by Kelly. The graphic novels will be released over a six month period early next year leading up to the film's release with the feature film comprised of the story's final three chapters. In addition, the film's official website will be one of the largest and most elaborate ever designed for a feature film. "The graphic novels will work in tandem with the website, creating a more epic multimedia experience for those interested in taking the plunge," added Kelly.

UTA helped package the project. Glenn Feig of Reder & Feig is production counsel.

Richard Kelly is repped by CAA, The Firm and David Weber of Sloan, Offer, Weber and Dern, LLP.

Cherry Road and Persistent are repped by Linda Lichter at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols & Adler.

Inferno Distribution is repped by Phil Rosen of Rosen & Anderson.

For additional information, please visit the film's official website, www.southlandtales.com.

Contact: Lynda Dorf / Chris Libby 310-550-7776 ldorf@bwr-la.com / clibby@bwr-la.com

Source: Cherry Road Films

CONTACT: Lynda Dorf, ldorf@bwr-la.com, or Chris Libby, clibby@bwr-la.com, both for Cherry Road Films, +1-310-550-7776

Web site: http://www.southlandtales.com/

------- Profile: Ent