Mia Wasikowska.
The cast of Mirrah Foulkes’ feature directorial debut Judy and Punch will be led by Tracks and Stoker star Mia Wasikowska.
Scheduled to shoot in regional Victoria next year, the film is a re-imagining of the classic puppet show ‘Punch and Judy’.
Set in the fictional town of Seaside, it follows two puppeteers – the vain but charismatic Punch and his resilient and talented wife Judy (Wasikowska) who attempt to resurrect their show as a means of escaping their decrepit town.
A VICE Media Australia and Blue-Tongue Films production, Judy and Punch has received production investment from VICE Media (USA) and Screen Australia, in association with Film Victoria.
Michele Bennett (Mr Inbetween, Chopper) and Blue-Tongue Films’ Nash Edgerton (Mr Inbetween, The Square) will produce with VICE’s Danny Gabai (Bad Batch), while the EPs are Vincent Landay (Her, Being John Malkovich) and VICE Media chief creative officer Eddy Moretti.
Beginning her career as an actress, Foulkes has recently also moved behind the camera, writing and directing several shorts such as Dumpy Goes to the Big Smoke, Florence Has Left the Building (which won an AACTA Award for Best Short Fiction Film) and Trespass.
“Mirrah has written a brilliantly entertaining and highly original script, and has such a unique vision as a director,” said Bennett and Edgerton in a joint statement.
“We’re very excited to be working with her and collaborating with the ground-breaking team at VICE Media, who have championed both Mirrah and Judy and Punch from the outset.”
VICE’s Gabai said: “Mirrah Foulkes is one of the most original new voices in cinema we’ve seen — someone who is able to find the perfect balance of character and chaos, emotion and humour.
“We’ve had the pleasure of watching her develop her talents as a filmmaker over the years, and we couldn’t be more excited to team up with our friends at Blue-Tongue and Screen Australia to help make her wildly inventive script into a reality.”
Cornerstone Films is attached for international sales.