Deadline has revealed that Focus Features and FilmNation Entertainment are developing The Outfit, a gangster film starring Mark Rylance (Dunkirk), Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner), Zoey Deutch (The Politician) and Johnny Flynn (Emma).
Graham Moore (The Imitation Game) will make his directorial debut with the film and is writing the screenplay with Jonathan McClain (Mad Men).
The Outfit follows “Leonard (Rylance), an English tailor who used to craft suits on London’s world-famous Savile Row. But after a personal tragedy, he’s ended up in Chicago, operating a small tailor shop in a rough part of town where he makes beautiful clothes for the only people around who can afford them: a family of vicious gangsters.”
“If you’d told me years ago, when Johnathan and I were first dreaming up this story, that I’d get to direct my first film with a cast as exquisitely talented as Mark, Zoey, Dylan and Johnny, I’d have said you were nuts,” said Moore. “And honestly, if you’d said that back then, you might have been. This film is such a deep labor of love for me and our whole team, and I could not ask for better partners than our friends at FilmNation and Focus.”
“A truly great film starts with fantastic writing, and we’re thrilled to have Graham’s talent drive this film to its full potential as a highly entertaining crime drama,” said FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner. “We couldn’t think of a better home for this film than with the talented and likeminded team at Focus and can’t wait to gear up for yet another production during a time when our industry needs great films more than ever.”
“Like so many, we were blown away by Graham’s award-winning work in The Imitation Game and are thrilled to take part in his directorial debut,” said Focus’ chairman Peter Kujawski. “His storytelling talents seem limitless, and the caliber of artists he’s sewn together both behind and in front of the camera for The Outfit will undoubtedly bring this thriller to life in an exciting way. We are looking forward to joining our friends at FilmNation in this endeavor.”
Production will begin in London in March.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.