EXCLUSIVE: Neon is gearing up to begin production in May on Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo, with Takashi Miike (Audition, 13 Assassins) set to direct. The thriller will star Shun Oguri (Godzilla v. Kong, No Longer Human), Lily James (Pam and Tommy, Yesterday) and WWE star Liv Morgan (Gionna Daddio).
The film will be a U.S.-Japan co-production, produced by Jeremy Thomas for Recorded Picture Company, Sam Pressman for Pressman Film, Naoaki Kitajima for Nippon TV and Misako Saka for OLM. Executive producers include Tom Quinn, Yuzo Kuwahara, Tetsu Fujimura, Paula Paizes, Alainée Kent, Peter Watson, Ivan Kelava, Max Loeb and Mike Apgar. The deal was negotiated by Neon’s Sarah Colvin, VP of Acquisitions, and Paula Paizes from Pressman Film and Recorded Picture Company’s Ivan Kelava on behalf of the filmmakers.
Neon will release the film theatrically in North America and represent the international sales rights in Cannes this month.
Written by Daisuke Tengan (Audition, 13 Assassins) and based on the IP first produced by Edward R. Pressman, Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo will follow the Bad Lieutenant (Oguri), a corrupt gambler in the Metropolitan Police Force, who finds himself thrown into a tangled case after an enigmatic FBI agent (James) arrives in Tokyo to investigate the disappearance of a politician’s daughter (Morgan). Meanwhile, a deviant killer operating in the yakuza underworld seems to be shadowing their moves.
“A team of incredibly talented actors and crew has gathered in Tokyo. Now. I’m about to throw a fastball straight down the middle of your strike zone – no tricks, no gimmicks. I’m confident we are about to break through every limit, to create unforgettable entertainment. Get ready for the ride with us,” shared Miike excitedly.
Neon is coming in hot following a successful award season with Sean Baker’s Anora starring Mikey Madison, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Darya Ekamasova and Aleksei Serebryakov. The film won five Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director for Baker and Best Actress for Madison.
Additional Neon titles headed to the French film festival include Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, Raoul Peck’s Orwell and Michael Angelo Covino’s Splitsville.
The post Takashi Miike To Direct Neon’s ‘Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo’ Starring Shun Oguri, Lily James & Liv Morgan; Film To Hit International Market At Cannes — The Dish appeared first on Deadline.
