EXCLUSIVE: Dev Patel‘s revenge action-thriller The Peasant has been snapped up by A24 in a splashy deal on the eve of the Cannes market.
We understand the pact closed in the $30M range last night after a competitive situation. It’s a Cannes market low on buzzy action movies and this one has a unique premise so was taken off the table by A24 before it could reach market. It will likely be on sale for international territories further down the line.
The 2023 Black List project is being described as having shades of Braveheart and John Wick as well as notes of King Arthur. After being updated by Patel, the script combines medieval knights with feudal India. Set in the 1300s, it centers on a shepherd who embarks on a rage-fueled campaign against a group of mercenary knights who ransacked his community, revealing himself to be more than he seems.
John Wick outfit Thunder Road is producing with Fifth Season who developed the project with Will Dunn, a writer on Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel. Patel will write, direct and star in the movie and there are hopes it can become a franchise. The aim is to shoot this year.
A24 and Patel previously teamed on David Lowery’s period fantasy The Green Knight.
Patel will also produce via his Minor Realm production shingle. The project reunites Patel with Thunder Road, which produced Monkey Man, his feature directorial debut, which he also co-wrote and starred in.
Exec producers on The Peasant are Graham Taylor, Chris Rice, Christopher Slager, Dan Guando for Fifth Season, and Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and Charlie Morrison for Thunder Road Picture.
Monkey Man told of a man who infiltrates a night club in order to exact vengeance on the man who killed his mother years earlier. It was released by Universal last year.
BAFTA nominee Patel, well known for movies including Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, is coming off Wes Anderson movie The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More and horror Rabbit Trap.