The star quartet team up for the much-talked-about British dark comedy, which is billed as a “funny class satire” and is set to be one of the hottest new packages on the European film market.
Two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, BAFTA nominee Jamie Dornan and rising talent Erin Kellyman (Solo: A Star Wars Story, 28 Years Later) have been cast in the dark comedy The Worst, which marks Simon Woods’ feature directorial debut.
The project is now heading to EFM in Berlin, where Protagonist Pictures and Logical Pictures International (LPI) are beginning global sales. Funded by Logical Pictures Group, the group’s newly announced sales company LPI will be in charge of sales in collaboration with Protagonist. UTA Independent Film Group co-represents domestic rights.
According to the description, “The Worst” “skewers privilege, desire, and performative morality, turning an elegant couple’s vacation into a memorable, hilarious, and harrowing evening.”
The film centers on socialite Emily Fisher (Vikander) and her husband Max, who invite their similarly wealthy friends to their new chateau in France for a night. Among the guests there are people who really can’t stand each other. Holly (Knightley) is a struggling diversity consultant who keeps bumping into everyone until she gets a migraine, and Danny (Dornan) is a resourceful talent agent who keeps adding names to his client list at every opportunity. As the night begins to draw on and dark secrets are revealed, waitress Niamh (Kellyman) finds herself in the middle of their chaos.
“I want audiences to have a good time watching ‘The Worst,'” Woods said. “I want them to be drawn into the vivid, over-the-top comic book characters, their messy, uncomfortable relationships, and the turmoil of it all. I want them to love these people, to the point where they almost agree with them. In doing so, I want them to hold a satirical mirror to the moment we’re living in.” “We’re building a film full of twists and turns, and there’s no better dream ensemble to deliver all the unexpected beats.”
Written and directed by actor-turned-playwright-director Woods (National Theatre’s Hansard, What a Wonderful Day), The Worst is produced by Eclipse Films’ Andy Berg and John Sachs in collaboration with BAFTA winner Josh Hyams of Promise Pictures. Frederic Fiore, Ryan Wickers and Andrei Kamarowski serve as executive producers for Logical Pictures Group, along with Protagonist Pictures’ Dave Bishop, James Pugh and George Hamilton.
“Simon Woods is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in film, both as a writer and director,” the producers said in a joint statement. “His new film will take you on a breathtaking journey through every emotion imaginable, full of humor, surprises and unexpected and terrifying twists. We are thrilled to be working with Simon and the incredible ensemble that his brilliant script will captivate, tasked with bringing his vision and the characters from Love to Hate to Love to life.”
Bishop added: “The Worst is a truly dark and timely satire, a sharp comedy that takes aim at privilege. Simon Woods’ hilarious and surprising screenplay, and Keira Knightley, Alicia Vikander, Jamie Dornan, and Erin Kellyma. With a hitman ensemble led by N, the film promises to turn a sun-kissed gathering in Provence into a dangerously fun night of chaos. ”
As an actor, Woods has appeared in Working Title’s Pride and Prejudice and HBO’s Rome, as well as starring roles in BBC’s Cranford and Penelope, alongside Christina Ricci, James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon. His debut play Hansard, starring Alex Jennings and Lindsay Duncan, premiered at the National Theatre, and his short film Such a Lovely Day was nominated for a BAFTA and shortlisted for BIFA.
“‘The Worst’ is perfectly aligned with Logical Pictures Group’s focus on high-potential English-language films built around bold concepts, premium packaging and strong international commercial appeal,” said Kamalowski, Logical Pictures Group’s international head.
Mr. Knightley is repped by United Agents, Range Media Partners and Sloan Offer Weber & Dern. Mr. Vikander is represented by UTA. Dornan is repped by UTA and Sloan, Offer, Weber & Dern. Mr. Kerryman is represented by Curtis Brown Group in the UK, CAA in the US, and Goodman, Genow, Shenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
