Michael Pitt Boards Sean Penn & Tye Sheridan Paramedics Thriller ‘Black Flies’
11.05.2022 - 00:11
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Boardwalk Empire actor Michael Pitt has joined Open Road and Sculptor Media’s drama-thriller Black Flies opposite Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan and Katherine Waterston.
The movie, based on the Shannon Burke novel of the same name, takes an immersive view of life on the streets and one medic’s struggle to maintain his desire to help despite his growing fear that nothing he can do will make a difference. It is the story of lives that hang in the balance and the choices of two men caught in the middle. Ollie Cross (Sheridan) is ready to do good. In preparation for his dream of medical school, he hits the streets driving an ambulance alongside Rutkovsky (Penn), a grizzled veteran and one of New York’s best medics.
Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire is directing off the latest draft by Burke, with Ryan King also penning. Open Road took US rights for a theatrical release. FilmNation Entertainment is handling international sales. Production is already underway in New York City.
Pic is being produced under the Sculptor Media banner alongside Force Majeure, James Masciello’s creative producing arm, wiip and Projected Picture Works.
Producers are Warren Goz (Sculptor Media), Eric Gold (Sculptor Media), Christopher Kopp, Lucan Toh, Sean Penn (Projected Picture Works), John Ira Palmer (Projected Picture Works) and John Wildermuth (Projected Picture Works). EPs are Luke Rodgers, Tye Sheridan, James Masciello, Matthew Sidari, Tom Ortenberg, King, Burke and Josh Stern (wiip).
Pitt played gangster Jimmy Darmody on HBO’s Emmy winning series Boardwalk Empire from Martin Scorsese and Mark Wahlberg; a part that earned him two SAG ensemble drama TV series wins. He also starred in the late Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers, Gus Van Sant’s Last Days