Lone Survivor executive producer Jason Shuman has agreed to serve as lead producer on a US-set sports drama being developed by Australian actor/producer Josh Howlett.
Based on a true story, Final Four will follow three young Australian guys who go to the US to try their luck in the NCAA College Basketball Championships.
Recruited by Saint Mary’s College near San Francisco, the Aussies contribute to the team’s greatest success in 50 years.
Howlett was introduced to Shuman, whose credits include Role Models and Darkness Falls, by Bobby Galinsky, who is writing the script and executive producing.
Shuman is one of the producers on Galinsky’s long-in-development Dust and Glory, a comedy action adventure love story set during the RedEx Trials of the 1950s.
"Bobby introduced me to Josh earlier in the year and we began discussions which culminated with a deal when he flew to Los Angeles and we met last month," said Shuman. "I’m very excited to be working with him and Bobby and returning to Australia where I had such an amazing experience with Darkness Falls.”
Howlett is slated to star in the film alongside fellow Australian Clyde Boraine, who portrayed Danthony, best friend of Chris Lilley’s American rapper S.mouse in Angry Boys.
Chris Kirby (Iron Sky, The Matrix Reloaded) will play the assistant coach, whom Howlett describes as the film’s “meatiest” character. He hopes to attract an actor of the calibre of Nick Nolte or Woody Harrelson to play the coach.
Howlett, 24, who is producing via his Handmade Media banner, says a US director will soon be attached and the aim is to finalise casting in early 2015. A late year shoot on location in Australia and the US is planned.