Dev Patel will make his feature directing debut with upcoming film ‘Monkey Man’, which he also wrote and stars in.
The action thriller is about one man’s epic quest for vengeance against the exploitative and corrupt leaders who murdered his mother (Adithi Kalkunte; ‘Hotel Mumbai’) and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.
Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, ‘Monkey Man’ stars Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who, after the horrific land-dispute massacre of his childhood village, was left orphaned on the streets of the fictional city of Yatana. Kid now makes a meagre living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he allows himself to be beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.
But when, after years of patience and contained rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite, his childhood trauma boils over, and his scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of righteous revenge against the men who took everything from him.
Featuring some of the most thrilling, shocking, and spectacular fight and chase scenes ever captured on film, ‘Monkey Man’ is directed by Patel from his story and his screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’).
The film’s impressive international cast includes Sharlto Copley (‘District 9’), Sobhita Dhulipala (‘Made in Heaven’), Pitobash (‘Million Dollar Arm’), Vipin Sharma (‘Hotel Mumbai’), Ashwini Kalsekar (‘Ek Tha Hero’), Sikandar Kher (‘Aarya’) and Makarand Deshpande (‘RRR’).
‘Monkey Man’ is produced by Patel, Jomon Thomas (‘Hotel Mumbai’, ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’), Jordan Peele (‘Nope’, ‘Get Out’), Win Rosenfeld (‘Candyman’, ‘Hunters’ series), Ian Cooper (‘Nope’, ‘Us’), Basil Iwanyk (‘John Wick’ franchise, ‘Sicario’ films), Erica Lee (‘John Wick’ franchise, ‘Silent Night)’, Christine Haebler (‘Shut In’, ‘Bones of Crows’) and Anjay Nagpal (executive producer of ‘Bombshell’, ‘Greyhound’).
‘Monkey Man’ will be released in cinemas soon.
