Luke Wilson to star in Macon Blair's dark comedy 'The Shitheads', which will debut on SEG's 'Binge' platform
Screen Daily reports that Slate Entertainment Group (SEG) has acquired the worldwide rights to Macon Blair's (Blue Ruin, Green Room) upcoming dark comedy project 'The Shitheads.' The film will feature Luke Wilson (Idiocracy, Bongwater, Legally Blonde) and Ron Funches (Undateable) in starring roles and debut on SEG's blockchain VOD platform 'Binge.'
'The Shitheads' will be based on a story Blair created with producer Alex Orr about a pair of men who have been hired to escort a teenage millionaire to rehab and will be fully financed by SEG. The production is set to begin sometime at the start of 2019.
Speaking about his pet project, Blair joked, "I’ve been carrying this movie in my head for years now which probably accounts for my pronounced physical deterioration," adding that he was delighted to have the opportunity to get it out of his brain with the help of collaborators he admired so much.
"It’s dynamite to be working with SEG, who’ve been so supportive and enthused about the movie. I’m grateful to be a part of their new platform, a place I think indie film is really going to flourish," he continued.
The view from the other side was similar, with SEG co-founder and CEO Michael Moyal heaping praise on Blair. He said, "We have a deep respect for Macon’s work. It’s an honor for us to work with such a talented individual and launch The Shitheads on Binge."
Moyal also spoke about Binge, which is expected to launch later this year and provide competition to the other giants in the streaming platform industry. "Our platform aims to tell great stories and collaborate with unique and talented filmmakers," he said.
"We’re excited for the journey ahead as we continue to build the Binge library."
Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, and Jody Hill's Rough House Pictures will be producing 'The Shitheads' in tandem with Jeremy Saulnier, Film Science's Orr, as well as Blair's Bonneville Films and XYZ films, who also serve as SEG's strategic partners.
XYZ will also be overseeing the entirety of the production on behalf of SEG and has reportedly brokered a deal with CAA Media Finance, who packaged and arranged the financing for the film.
'The Shitheads' will be SEG's attempt at pushing original content and establishing itself as one of the premiere streaming services.
Blair has also collaborated with XYZ and Filmscience in the past, namely with his directorial debut, 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore,' which was a Netflix original in 2017.
The comedy thriller was also written by Blair and premiered at that year's Sundance Film Festival, even walking away with the Grand Jury Prize for U.S Dramatic Competition.
