While no deals are being signed just yet, preliminary screening is underway for casting and crewing efforts for Daisy Scarlett, an adaptation of Ben Trebilcook’s novel which has been long in the works.
Several talents are in the mix, and we can exclusively report that actress Julie Estelle is a potential candidate for the title role. Also in the ball park are actors Pierce Brosnan (007 franchise, The Foreigner) and Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon franchise, upcoming Boss Level) for a key role.
“Naturally a lot of talents have been discussed, but Julie Estelle is my top choice for Daisy”, says Trebilcook. “It’s a terrific, physically and mentally demanding role and Julie has proved in all of her films every type of gruelling demand.”
While plot details are light at the moment, the gist of Daisy Scarlett centers on an MI-6 agent with a bit of drinking problem. She’s torn between not disappointing her boss (her father) in service of King and country, or her ex-spy-cum-conspiracy theorist mother who even has her own webcast.
Trebilcook also notes that a search for a director is currently underway, speaking highly of stunt coordinator Peter Pedrero (Final Score, Apostle), who has had his eye on the project for a long time.
“Peter could make a million dollar movie look like a hundred million.” he says. “His stunt team are out of this world brilliant and if all the factors came into play and Peter was locked in, I’d be totally content.”
The actress previously saw a big screen turnout starring alongside Oka Antara and Arifin Putra (The Raid 2) in Randy Korompis’s dystopian action sci-fi, Foxtrot Six, on which Uwais’ own stunt team delivers the action.
Early buzz generated for the project stemming from Kassar’s attachment given his name credibility from turning action stars Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger into household names in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Having worked with Mario on Foxtrot Six, she’d like to work with him again.” says Trebilcook, who also notes production on Daisy Scarlett would take place prominently with 95 percent of the shoot in Indonesia, and with locations in London and Spain also on the map.
Trebilcook also touted the special effects on Foxtrot Six which he says Kassar himself oversaw, adding he would love to have the same VFX team on board.
“Having seen what Indo filmmakers have achieved with their movies and what Mario has done with Foxtrot, I feel completely at ease that nothing really has to be scaled back or reworked too much in the script.” says Trebilcook. He further cites laws and restrictions in Indonesia that are placed on film budgets, which he says are low compared to even some pop videos or a television show.
“Out there, money can stretch far and people pull together and work real hard. There’s no going over budget; that is it, so you work it out.” says Trebilcook. “It’s really about availability for everyone and certainly working the script to fit the best budget we can get for this movie.”
He adds, “Daisy is a big movie, but out there, I feel it’s wholly doable.”
Korompis directs Foxtrot Six from his own script. The film centers on elite soldier finds himself at a precipice amid deadly conspiracies and unraveling truths between the usurped government he serves, and the rebels he must join, as the world’s last great superpower becomes ground zero for the ultimate battle for mankind.
As reported by City On Fire two weeks ago, Lionsgate Home Entertainment is rolling the film out on April 14. Exact release plans haven’t been announced yet by the studio in terms of a digital/VOD or Blu-Ray release, and an official U.S. trailer remains pending.