Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain), Golden Globe nominee Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver), and Zendaya (The Greatest Showman) have signed on to star in the crime thriller, Finest Kind. Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential) wrote the script and is attached to direct.
“Brian and I have dreamed about making this film together for a long time. Brian’s directorial vision and powerful screenplay which draws on his experiences growing up in the tough town of New Bedfrod, Mass., has attracted a stellar cast lead by Jake, Ansel and Zendaya. I couldn’t be more thrilled!” said producer Gary Foster (Sleepless in Seattle, Denial), commenting on Finest Kind‘s cast.
In addition to Foster, Finest Kind will be produced by Russ Krasnoff, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Riva Marker. 30WEST is financing the film and STXinternational is handling international distribution for the film. STXinternational is also committed to directly distributing the thriller in the UK and Ireland.
“Reteaming with Imperative and 30WEST is another great opportunity to bring quality filmmaking to the international marketplace,” stated David Kosse, President of STXinternational. “Brian Helgeland is the perfect director to capture the grit and emotion of this phenomenal cast. It’s a great collaboration on every level and I could not be more delighted to be working alongside such an exciting group of filmmakers.”
Brian Helgeland’s directing credits include Legend, 42, The Order, A Knight’s Tale, and Payback. His writing credits include Robin Hood, Green Zone, The Taking of Pelham 123, Man on Fire, Mystic River, and Blood Work.
Gyllenhaal recently finished up work on The Sisters Brothers with Joaquin Phoenix, Riz Ahmed, and John C. Reilly. Elgort’s been keeping busy with his music career and with The Goldfinch directed by John Crowley and co-starring Nicole Kidman and Sarah Paulson. Zendaya is about to reprise her role as Michelle in the Untitled Spider-Man: Homecoming Sequel.
The Plot: Finest Kind is a crime thriller about two brothers (Gyllenhaal and Elgort) who strike a dangerous deal with a crime syndicate that draws them into the Boston underworld. As pressures mount, sacrifices must be made and bonds—between brother and brother and between father and sons–put to the test.
