Los Angeles based production and distribution company Wrekin Hill Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to iNumber Number, the South African thriller written and directed by Donovan Marsh and is looking toward a Spring 2014 release in the United States. The story follows an honest undercover cop who, after being cheated out of a promotion, crosses over to become a part of a cash-in-transit heist gang.
iNumber Number will open in cinemas locally on 25 April, giving South African audiences the chance to see it first. “It’s a major coup for us as filmmakers because it highlights the quality of the film,” says producer Harriet Gavshon.
“The international film market is highly competitive and securing a US release is a big win for the film. Universal Pictures optioned the remake rights to iNumber Number at the end of last year, so we are urging audiences to make sure they see the original first as we are certain it will become a South African classic. The US release of the original also gives us the opportunity to showcase local talent on the international stage.”
The film, which stars S’dumo Mtshali and Presley Chweneyagae, had its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival in September 2013. It was produced by Marsh, Quizzical Pictures’ Harriet Gavshon, JP Potgieter and Mariki van der Walt, and executive produced by Nim Geva and Owen Kessel.
Sheer Publishing assisted in music clearance for the film “iNumber Number.
An action-packed movie, iNumber Number is about a pair of cops battling corrupt colleagues as well as a gang of armoured-car thieves. Chili (S’dumo Mtshali, winner of ‘Class Act’ in 2010),and Shoes (Presley Chweneyagae of Tsotsi and State of Violence fame) have been partners in the police force for eight years.
After they make a risky arrest, their corrupt superior refuses to give them the reward they are due. Enraged, Chili realises that honesty does not pay and sets about infiltrating a gang of armoured car thieves. His scheme goes awry when the gang discover his true identity.
iNumber Number is South African director Donovan Marsh’s fourth film. An award- winning director, writer and editor, Marsh has worked in the local film industry since 1992. He wrote and directed the feature films Dollars and White Pipes, Spud and Spud 2: The Madness Continues.
Universal’s remake of the film will be produced by Chris Morgan, the writer of the Fast & Furious movies, and his partner Emile Gladstone, via their Universal- based Chris Morgan Productions. Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films is also producing. Nate Bolotin and Nick Spicer are attached to executive produce.