Broad Green Pictures has added Rodrigo García’s “Last Days in the Desert,” which stars Ewan McGregor as both Jesus and the Devil, to its 2016 film slate.
The film, which co-stars Tye Sheridan (“Mud”), Ciarán Hinds (“Game of Thrones”) and Ayelet Zurer (“Man of Steel”), was produced by Bonnie Curtis (“Saving Private Ryan”) and Julie Lynn (“Albert Nobbs”) of Mockingbird Pictures and Wicks Walker (The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby”).
“Last Days in the Desert,” which made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, follows Jesus in an imagined chapter from his 40 days of fasting and praying in the desert. On his way out of the wilderness, he struggles with the Devil over the fate of an ordinary family in crisis, setting for himself a dramatic test with distinctly human conflicts.
The film reunites writer-director García with Oscar-winning DP Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki. The two worked together on García’s “Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her,” which was awarded Un Certain Regard at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. Lubezki has received two Oscars for his work on “Birdman” and “Gravity.”
“Broad Green is such a creative and forward-thinking distributor that it feels like a perfect fit for ‘Last Days,’” said García. “I’m so thrilled by the talent and compassion that Ewan has brought to both his roles in our film and I believe that Broad Green will be able to share that with audiences who are religious, non-religious, and just plain interested in the discussion.”
In 2014, Broad Green announced an investment in Tugg and this collaboration marks the first time the two companies have partnered on a release. Through this unique collaboration with the crowdsourcing cinema-on-demand platform and specialty marketing agency Different Drummer, the studio will expand the traditional theatrical release through cinema experiences. This initiative is designed to mobilize fans to rally community support for the film in theaters and non-theatrical spaces in local markets.
“‘Last Days in the Desert’ is an ambitious and unique film that deserves an equally-as-unique release plan and pattern,” said Dylan Wiley, Broad Green’s president of specialty releasing. “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Tugg and Different Drummer to bring it to audiences everywhere in a meaningful and innovative manner.”
The deal was brokered on behalf of the filmmakers by WME Global, while Wiley and Christopher Tricarico handled for Broad Green Pictures. Hanway Films is handling international sales for the film.