EXCLUSIVE: After competitive bidding war, Apple Studios landed Dolly, a new film starring Oscar-nominated Florence Pugh starring Vanessa Taylor and Drew Pearce Penning. Insiders close to the project stress that the project is not green light at the moment, as the text has yet to be written and a director has yet to be attached. Insiders go further, adding that the package has caught the interest of a total of four bidders that included several studios and another streamer, with Apple TV + emerging as the winner earlier this week.
The film is a scientific drama in a courtroom in which a robot ‘companion doll’ kills its owner and then shocks the world by claiming she is innocent and asking for a lawyer. The film, inspired by Elizabeth Bear’s short story of the same name, contains elements of classic courtroom drama and science.
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Apple Studios was produced with Pearce also producing through Point of No Return Films, and Pugh and Taylor will deliver executive production. Ian Fisher executive producer through Point of No Return Films.
Pugh quickly became one of the rising stars in Hollywood in the leading lady series after her turn in the star Midsummer and Oscar-nominated role in Little women. She plays next in Marvel’s Black widow will appear in theaters in May 2021, and she recently began production as the female lead in Do not worry Honey for New Line, directed by Olivia Wilde. She also recently attached herself to acting The maid adaptation at Universal.
The sale is the first major auction for Pearce’s new production company and the project has attracted wide attention through Pearce’s innovative use of a full video pitch, allowing many potential buyers to see the project simultaneously – something that is especially useful in a landscape where studios, streamers and investors are increasing. Pearce successfully sold the Untitled Stunt Man Pitch in a competitive situation against Universal with Dave Leitch in charge of directing and Ryan Gosling in charge last fall in Sept.
Taylor is best known for her Oscar-winning work on The form of water, which she co-wrote with Guillermo del Toro. She recently released the Netflix adaptation of Hillbilly Elegy starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close.
Pugh is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Curtis Brown and Associates and attorney Ziffren Brittenham. Taylor is awarded by ICM Partners, Robert Offer at Sloane Offer Weber Dern, and 42 West. Pearce and his Point of No Return Films are screened by WME and Jim Gilio and Warren Dern at Sloane Offer Weber Dern. Taylor is represented by Doug Johnson at ICM Partners, and Robert Offer at Sloane Offer Weber Dern.
Apple’s original film leads the AFI Fest winner, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, Dublin Film Critics Circle, Chicago Film Critics Association, Chicago Indie Critics, Critics’ Choice Super Award-winning animated film Wolfwalkers; the recent premiere and nominated by the Critics Choice Award Palmer starring Justin Timberlake, directed by Fisher Stevens; Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award-nominated film On the rocks, Greyhound written by Tom Hanks and starring; the Grand Jury Prize winner of the Sundance Film Festival Son state, which also won two Critics Choice Documentary Awards.
Apple TV + will soon premiere anticipated movies including Anthony and Joe Russo’s new movie Cherry, starring Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo; and winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize CODE.