Dios mio, man, the Jesus is back. Screen Media has acquired the North American rights to “The Jesus Rolls,” the spinoff film based on John Turturro’s breakout character, Jesus Quintana, from the Coen Brothers’ “The Big Lebowski,” the company announced Monday.
Turturro wrote and directed the film (formerly titled “Going Places”) in which he reprises his role as Jesus Quintana, and Screen Media is planning to release “The Jesus Rolls” in early 2020.
Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, Jon Hamm, Susan Sarandon and Pete Davidson star in the film, which follows a trio of misfits whose irreverent, sexually charged dynamic evolves into a surprising love story. Their spontaneous and flippant attitude towards the past or future backfires time and again, even as they inadvertently perform good deeds. When they make enemies with a gun-toting hairdresser, their journey becomes one of constant escape from the law, from society and from the hairdresser, all while the bonds of their outsider family strengthen.
“It feels like a good time to release a transgressive film about the stupidity of men who try and fail and try better to understand and penetrate the mystery of women,” Turturro said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Screen Media and bring our work and the character of the Jesus to American audiences.”
“It’s an honor to be working with John Turturro again,” Seth Needle, SVP of worldwide acquisitions at Screen Media said in a statement. “His passion for storytelling and character building is unparalleled, so it goes without saying that people should be excited for the Jesus.”
Robert Salerno, John Penotti, Fernando Sulichin, Sidney Kimmel and Paul-Dominique Win Vacharasinthu are producing the film. Max Arvelaiz, Lawrence Kopeikin, Michael Lewis, Bruce Toll and Robert S. Wilson serve as executive producers. Cornerstone Films Limited is handling international sales for the film.
Needle negotiated the deal with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers.
Screen Media recently acquired North American rights to the documentary “Liam Gallagher: As It Was” and to the Alec Baldwin-produced crime thriller “Crown Vic.”