A new director is ready to dive in and make a splash at this week’s virtual European Film Market, a film trade fair held simultaneously with the world’s largest annual film festival, the Berlinale. Per Deadline, after almost twenty years in front of the camera, Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios is launching Chris Pine’s directorial debut with the film, Poolman, described as a mystery-comedy that follows a hapless dreamer who uncovers a dangerous corruption plot that puts his life at risk.
As one of the hottest movies at the virtual EFM, the Pine’s team is due to give a presentation to buyers later this week, and it appears they have high hopes that the package will sell. The project (which sounds awesome) was described to Deadline as “Big Lebowski meets LA film noir with a healthy splash of La La Land.” Pine singing Bob Dylan’s “The Man in Me” – Anyone? Anyone? Or Pine driving his red Chevrolet Corvette down Mulholland Drive? – Anyone? Anyone? On its face, the format offers the young director many creative avenues to explore as LA noir encompasses a range of styles from Inherent Vice to L.A. Confidential to The Big Lebowski’s “The Dude,” who, in part, is inspired by Raymond Chandler’s novels.
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Check out the official synopsis of Poolman below:
Poolman Is Chris Pine’s Directorial Debut
As reported in Deadline, with Poolman, Pine is kicking off his directorial career by directing the one actor he’s always longed to work with his whole life, himself. The Star Trek actor will play the lead role in the LA noir musical. Starring alongside Pine, Academy Award nominees Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Annette Bening (Captain Marvel), who are set to play his neighbors and sidekicks.
In the movie, Pine will play Darren Barrenman, a hapless dreamer and would-be philosopher who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block in sunny Los Angeles and crashing city council meetings with his neighbors Jack and Diane (DeVito, Bening). When Barrenman uncovers the greatest water heist in LA history since Chinatown he makes uneasy alliances with a beautiful and connected femme fatale while following every lead he can with corrupt city officials, burned out Hollywood types, and mysterious benefactors – all in the name of protecting his precious Los Angeles. Expect some fun cameos and supporting cast to be added.
The mystery-comedy will be produced by Pine, Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) for Wicious Pictures, Stacey Sher (Django Unchained) for Shiny Penny Productions, and Ian Gotler (Funny Or Die: Vampire Lawyer with Chris Pine). Gotler, who is a partner at Barry Linen Motion Pictures, co-scripted Poolman with Pine. Financing of the film is with CAA Media Finance, and it’s being co-repped domestically with AGC.
In addition to his directorial debut with Poolman, Pine has many other upcoming projects. He will executive produce and star in action-thriller Violence of Action, alongside Ben Foster (Hell or High Water) and Gillian Jacobs (Community). He is also starring in the highly anticipated Dungeons & Dragons film based on the role-playing game, and the psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde. He is also slated for a 2023 untitled Star Trek sequel as Captain Kirk, but details on the project are fuzzy.
