Gritty Irish teen drama Here Are The Young Men has locked a North American distribution deal for next year from Well Go USA Entertainment. The film was adapted for the screen by director Eoin Macken who co-wrote the film with Rob Doyle, whose acclaimed 2014 novel serves as the basis for the film.
Set in 2003, the film catalogs the last summer of three Dublin high school graduates – aimless Matthew (Dean-Charles Chapman, HBO’s Game of Thrones), his charismatic yet deranged friend Kearney (Finn Cole, HBO Max’s Peaky Blinders) and their precocious friend Rez (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Sing Street) – as they embark on an epic binge to celebrate a future without limits. But when they witness a catastrophic accident, the incident sends them spiraling, forcing each to grapple with the most daunting challenge of their lives: facing the demons inside.
Also headlining the ensemble cast are Travis Fimmel (Ridley Scott’s HBO MAX series Raised by Wolves, History Channel’s Vikings, Universal’s Warcraft) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit, Focus Features’ Emma, A24’s The Witch). The film played at the Giffoni Film Festival and the Galway Film Fleadh, where it won the Bingham Ray New Talent Award for co-producer Edwina Casey.
“Here Are The Young Men is an unflinching depiction of the realities of tragedy, temptation and the depths of human nature,” said Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO at Well Go USA. “It shines a light on the struggles associated with coming of age, forming an identity and defining masculinity in the face of trauma.”
ICM Partners and CAA Media Finance represented the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. The film is also poised for a day-and-date release in the UK and Ireland in Spring 2021 via Signature Entertainment, with Wildcard managing the theatrical release of the film in Ireland.
Hail Mary Pictures’ Richard Bolger (Cardboard Gangsters) and Union Entertainment Group’s Noah C Haeussner (Arctic) produced the pic with Edwina Casey co-producing. Foton Pictures, Paul W.S. Anderson, Andrew Davies Gans, Conor Barry, Michael Raimondi, Emerson Machtus, Carlos Cuscó, Dearbhla Regan and Gary Shortall exec produce.
Filmed on location in Dublin, Ireland, the film was produced with the support of Screen Ireland, Funny Leopard, Bending Light, Glanzrock Productions and EGG Studios.
“We are excited to be partnering again with the terrific team at Well Go USA. We have a longstanding relationship with Doris and the great team, and they always deliver spectacular results for our titles. We cannot wait for US audiences to finally get to see this visually striking coming-of-age story,” Chairman of Arclight Films Gary Hamilton stated. “We are also particularly proud to have Signature on board to release the film in the UK and Ireland. Their top-notch team always delivers inspiring campaigns that reach audiences beyond what is expected.”
Macken is represented by ICM Partners, Magnolia Entertainment and The Artists Partnership; Chapman by CAA and United Agents; Taylor-Joy by CAA, United Agents, and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.
Arclight Films’ current slate partly includes horror-thriller The Devil To Pay, Twist starring Michael Caine, Lena Heady, and Rita Ora, sports drama Streamline with Jason Isaacs and Levi Miller, Venice Film Festival Official Selection The Furnace, magical coming-of-age story Chasing Wonders starring Paz Vega and Edward James Olmos, martial arts film The Foggy Mountain, horror-thriller Bloody Hell, cult thriller The Sinners created by Courtney Paige, haunting thriller Let It Snow, and Sundance’s critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller Possessor starring Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Sean Bean, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, directed by Brandon Cronenberg which released on October 2nd in the U.S. from NEON.