What does Jesse Eisenberg, Adrien Brody and Riley Keough all have in common? They are all are set to star in Manodrome, a film written and to be directed by South African helmer John Trengrove, marking his English-language debut. The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report the news. Pic package will be presented to buyers and financiers during the Cannes virtual market just getting underway.
Synopsis of the film reads like this A nihilistic thriller, Manodrome tells the story of Ralphie (Eisenberg), an Uber driver and aspiring bodybuilder who is inducted into a libertarian masculinity cult and loses his grip on reality when his repressed desires are awakened.
But before the film gets off the ground it also has to pas through Felix Culpa’s Keough, Gina Gammell and Ryan Zacarias are producing with Ben Giladi’s Rainmaker Entertainment. CAA Media Finance is arranging the financing and represents the film’s domestic rights.
Trengove’s Xhosa-language debut feature The Woundwas shortlisted for an Academy Award and screened at numerous festivals including Sundance where it was featured in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, the Berlin Film Festival, Göteborg Film Festival, and the Palm Springs Film Festival. He is represented by CAA and Independent Talent Group.