Cross Creek Pictures is fully financing Keepers, a psychological thriller to be helmed by The Killing‘s Kristoffer Nyholm in his feature debut. Gerard Butler, Peter Mullan and up-and-comer Joe Alwyn (Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk) have now boarded the project that’s inspired by a true unsolved local mystery. Mad As Birds is producing with an eye towards an early 2017 UK shoot. Protagonist Pictures will introduce to buyers at the AFM this week.
The action is set on an uninhabited island 20 miles from the rugged Scottish coast. There, three lighthouse keepers arrive for a six-week shift. As Thomas (Mullan), James (Butler) and Donald (Alwyn) settle into their usual, solitary routines, they stumble upon something that isn’t theirs to keep. Where did it come from? Who does it belong to? When a boat appears in the distance that might hold the answer to their questions, a battle for survival ensues as personal greed replaces loyalty and three honest men are led down a path to destruction.
Nyholm calls the film, “a journey from innocence to animalistic survival.” His TV credits include the first season of Denmark’s The Killing; Sky miniseries The Enfield Haunting and upcoming FX/BBC series Taboo starring Tom Hardy. Keepers marks his feature debut. It’s written by Celyn Jones (Set Fire To The Stars) and Joe Bone (Castles In The Sky).
Producers for Mad As Birds are Andy Evans, Ade Shannon and Sean Marley; Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE; and Brian Oliver for Cross Creek. Jason Seagraves is exec producer.
Protagonist is handling international rights. CAA, which reps Butler, Alwyn and Nyholm, will co-represent North American rights. Butler is also represented by Alan Siegel Entertainment; Alywn by Independent Talent Group; and Nyholm by United Agents. Mullan is repped by Markham, Froggatt and Irwin.
