Ant-Man star Paul Rudd is joining Alexander Skarsgard (“True Blood,” Tarzan) for the upcoming sci-fi thriller Mute. The project has long been a passion project for director Duncan Jones (Moon, Warcraft)
Mute is based on a script by Jones and Mike Johnson and is set in Berlin, forty years from today. There, a roiling city of immigrants, where East crashes against West in a science-fiction Casablanca. Leo Beiler (Skarsgard), a mute bartender has one reason and one reason only for living here, and she’s disappeared. But when Leo’s search takes him deeper into the city’s underbelly, an odd pair of American surgeons (led by Rudd) seem to be the only recurring clue, and Leo can’t tell if they can help, or who he should fear most.
“I’ve been working towards making ‘Mute’ for 12 years now,” says Jones. “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that we’re finally going to shoot this utterly unique film. The fact that I get to make it with Alexander Skarsgard and Paul Rudd makes it all the more exciting! ‘Mute’ is a film that will last. It is unlike any other science fiction being made today.”
Mute will be produced by Stuart Fenegan under Jones and Fenegan’s Liberty Films banner. Lotus Entertainment has come on board to handle international sales starting at the upcoming AFM. CAA, who arranged for the financing, is handling the domestic sale. Lotus’ Bill Johnson, Jim Seibel, and Ara Keshishian will serve as executive producers.
“We’re very excited to work with Duncan and Stuart,” says Seibel. “They are an immensely talented team that will surely deliver an exciting and cinematic film. Director Duncan Jones is a true visionary filmmaker and the real deal. It’s his caliber of talent that makes storytelling both visually exciting and captivating.”
“Bill, Jim and Ara share the same passion I do for building another vision of the future with Duncan,” adds Fenegan. “I look forward to going on this journey with them, and also reuniting with Sam Rockwell and composer Clint Mansell… can’t do sci-fi without Sam and Clint!”
Production on Mute is scheduled to start in March 2016.
