Press release from Lightning Entertainment
Following the worldwide success of THE REEF represented by Lightning Entertainment (“Lightning”) in 2010, the Santa Monica-based sales, production and distribution company has acquired worldwide rights to writer/director Andrew Traucki’s next feature film production THE JUNGLE that commences principal photography in June on location in Australia and Indonesia, it was announced today by Robert Beaumont, President of Lightning.
Produced by Traucki’s Mysterious Light Production Company and Annmaree J. Bell, the new thriller stars Rupert Reid (MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, MATRIX RELOADED) whose short BOO won the Audience Award at this year’s Tropfest and newcomers Igusti Budianthika and Agoes Widjaya Soedjarwo.
Richard S. Guardian is the executive producer of the film and serves as a sales consultant on THE JUNGLE for Lightning. He also served as executive producer for THE REEF. Guardian brought the film to Lightning under his ongoing acquisitions and sales consultancy agreement with the company.
“I am thrilled to be working again with Andrew after the incredible success we had with THE REEF,” said Guardian. “This script is an edge-of-your-seat suspense thriller — Andrew’s specialty,” added Lightning President, Robert Beaumont.
THE JUNGLE tells the story of an Australian leopard conservationist who ventures into the remote Indonesian jungle with his documentary filmmaker brother to investigate reported sightings of an endangered species of the big cat. Their trek into the jungle becomes ever more bizarre and sinister with the realization they are being stalked by a deadly unseen predator.
Lightning has already secured significant sales for THE JUNGLE with the film pre-sold to Australia’s IFM/Filmways; France’s Wild Side; Metrodome in the UK; to Acontracorrientes in Spain; Middle East’s Eagle Films and IPA in Thailand.
Lightning previously represented international rights to Traucki’s thriller THE REEF about a great white shark that stalks the crew of a capsized sailboat along the Great Barrier Reef, which was released successfully in over 106 countries worldwide.
Traucki’s previous films BLACK WATER and THE REEF have cemented him as a filmmaker to watch. THE JUNGLE will be the third film in Traucki's genre trilogy of terror he calls ‘Three Colours Red,’ showcasing his distinctive brand of man-against-nature authentic filmmaking at its finest.
A native Australian, Traucki recently completed his segment for Magnet Picture’s ambitious and highly-anticipated horror anthology THE ABC’S OF DEATH in which 26 of the world’s leading talents in contemporary genre film — among them Ti West (THE INNKEEPERS), Ben Wheatley (KILL LIST), and Nacho Vigalondo (TIME CRIMES) — film a cinematic way to die. The feature film will debut in September.
Lightning’s high profile Cannes slate includes the Liam Hemsworth starrer LOVE AND HONOR screening for the first time for international buyers, WHOLE LOTTA SOLE starring Brendan Fraser and directed by Oscar winner Terry George (HOTEL RWANDA) making its market debut along with the star-studded comedy STRUCK BY LIGHTNING starring Glee’s Chris Colfer and Rebel Wilson, the comedy SERVITUDE starring Joe Dinicol (the CW’s The L.A. Complex) and the Russian animated 3D film KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE; the comedy THE HOT FLASHES starring Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Camryn Manheim and Wanda Sykes which will debut footage; the thrillers BLACK SOUTH-EASTER, ONE LAST LOOK and family film HEAVEN’S DOOR starring Charisma Carpenter (upcoming THE EXPENDABLES 2) and Joanna Cassidy (HBO’s Six Feet Under).
In addition, Lightning will also be showing buyers first footage from the comedy THE HOT FLASHES starring Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Camryn Manheim and Wanda Sykes and screening Australian sci-fi film, 25th REICH starring Jim Knobeloch, Dan Balcaban and Jak Wyld.