Carey Mulligan Comedy ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ Acquired by Focus Features (EXCLUSIVE)
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights to Carey Mulligan comedy “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” Variety can confirm exclusively.
They will release the film in the U.S. while Universal Pictures International is handling global distribution.
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The film, which was previously titled “One For The Money,” is directed by James Griffiths (“Cuban Fury”) and produced by Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow productions (“Philomena”).
The screenplay was written by Tom Basden (“After Life”) and Tim Key (“Great Expectations”), who also star in the film alongside Sian Clifford (“Fleabag”) and Akemnji Ndifornyen (“Famalam”).
“The Ballad of Wallis Island” tells the story of Charles (played by Key), an eccentric lottery winner who tries to reunite his favorite musical duo Mortimer-McGwyer (Mulligan and Basden) despite the fact they split up many years ago. Making things even more awkward, the musicians – Nell Mortimer and Herb McGwyer — were also once romantically involved with each other a la Sonny and Cher.
One day, Mortimer and McGwyer are summoned to Charles’ remote island to play a private show. As old tensions resurface, Charles desperately tries to find a way to salvage the situation so that he can finally enjoy his dream gig.
Rupert Majendie produces for Baby Cow Productions while Mulligan, Basden, Key and Griffiths exec produce alongside Sarah Monteith, Laurence Brown, Stephen Kelliher, Yana Georgieva. Bankside handled the sale.
Focus previously worked with Majendie on 2022 Sundance comedy “Brian and Charles.” The distributor’s upcoming slate includes the Pharrell Williams Lego-themed biopic “Piece by Piece” and Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black.”
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