Mr. Malcolm's List Starts Production in Ireland
Posted: 19th March 2021
Production adds Zawe Ashton, Theo James and Ashley Park
Emma Holly Jones’ debut feature, MR. MALCOLM’S LIST has announced production start in Ireland. Universal Pictures Content Group has acquired international rights excluding France while U.S. rights are held by Bleecker Street and the Canadian rights have been sold to LevelFILM. It is being produced by Untitled Entertainment’s Laura Rister, Rebelle Media’s Laura Lewis, Blinder Films’ Katie Holly and Jones, with funding from Ingenious Group and support by Screen Ireland. MR. MALCOLM’S LIST, is based on the novel of the same name written by Suzanne Allain, who also penned the script.
Zawe Ashton will portray “Julia,” with Theo James as “Henry” and Ashley Park will play the role of “Gertie”. They join BAFTA nominee and Executive Producer, Freida Pinto, BAFTA Rising Star nominee Ṣọpẹ́ Dirisu and THE INVISIBLE MAN’s Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
Julia (Ashton) is a society lady jilted by London’s most eligible bachelor Mr. Malcolm (Dirisu), when she fails to meet one of the items on his list of requirements for a bride. Feeling shunned and humiliated, she enlists her friend Selina (Pinto) to help her take revenge on Mr. Malcolm by tricking him into thinking he has found his perfect match. The plan appears to be working when Henry (James) threatens Julia’s scheme by courting Selina as well. After the bumbling Lord Cassidy (Jackson-Cohen) begins meddling in the foursome’s affairs, the course of true love, which never does run smooth, becomes rocky, indeed. Mr. Malcolm wonders whether he’s found the perfect woman...or the perfect hoax.
Most recently, Zawe starred on Broadway in the critically acclaimed revival of BETRAYAL directed by Jamie Lloyd. As a playwright, her play FOR ALL THE WOMEN WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE MAD was produced in London at the Hackney Showroom and at Soho Rep in New York. Her recent film and tv credits include the TV series “Wanderlust” and the feature film VELVET BUZZSAW, in which she starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Toni Colette, and Rene Russo. In addition to being an accomplished actress, she is a successful director and producer. Zawe’s directorial debut Happy Toys was nominated for Best British Short at the Raindance Film Festival in 2014.
Most recently, we saw Theo James starring in feature film ARCHIVE (a project he also produced) opposite Stacy Martin. He could also recently be seen in LYING & STEALING, which he starred in and executive produced as well as “Sandition” for ITV & PBS and Netflix’s HOW IT ENDS directed by David Rosenthal opposite Forest Whitaker. Other screen credits include: John Michael McDonagh’s WAR ON EVERYONE, THE SECRET SCRIPTURE and The Allegiant Trilogy. Just before the national lockdown and subsequent closure of theatres, he was about to open in Josie Rourke’s smash hit “City of Angels” in the West End. Next up we will see James star as Henry in Stephen Moffat's adaptation of “The Time Traveler’s Wife” opposite Rosie Leslie.
Ashley Park is a Grammy and Tony-nominated actress who originated and starred as ‘Gretchen Wieners’ in “Mean Girls” on Broadway in 2018. Her other theatre credits include “The King and I,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “KPOP,” “Cinderella,” “MAMMA MIA!,” and most recently “Grand Horizons.” On television, Park can currently be seen starring opposite Lily Collins in the hit Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” which is created, executive-produced, and written by Darren Star. Her other television credits include Netflix’s “Tales of the City,” Apple TV+’s "Helpsters,” and Pop TV/Lionsgate Television’s "Nightcap.” Up next, Park will be seen starring opposite Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, and Busy Philipps in the Peacock comedy series “Girls5Eva,” which is executive produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.
The deal was negotiated by Laura Rister and Laura Lewis on behalf of the film with Universal Pictures Content Group for the majority of International rights and LevelFILM for Canadian rights. Ashton is repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment. James is repped by Markham, Froggatt & Irwin and UTA. Park is repped by CAA, Brookside Artist Management, and Michael Auerbach at Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Klein.