CANNES: Bill Murray’s ‘Rock the Kasbah’ Sells to Sony for International Territories
Bill Murray’s upcoming comedy “Rock the Kasbah” has scored sales from QED to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions for the U.K., Latin America, Spain and Eastern Europe.
Bill Block’s QED launched foreign sales at the European Film Market. Production will start later this month in Morocco with Barry Levinson directing from Mitch Glazer’s script.
Story centers on a has-been rock manager who takes his last remaining client on a USO tour of Afghanistan. When he finds himself in Kabul, abandoned, penniless and without his passport, he discovers a young Pashtun girl with an extraordinary voice and manages her through Afghanistan’s version of “American Idol.”
QED also announced that Leem Lubany (“Omar”) has joined the cast, which includes Kate Hudson, Danny McBride, Scott Caan and Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel will play the young singer and perform four songs by Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens).
Block, Venture Forth’s Jacob Pechenik, Shangri-La Entertainment’s Steve Bing and Glazer will produce. Brian Grazer and Tom Freston are exec producing.
Open Road obtained U.S. rights during the Berlin Film Festival.
The deal was made by SPWA’s Chan Phung, Michael Helfand and Jon Freedberg with QED’s John Friedberg.
Related stories
CANNES: Roskino Showcases Wide Range of Russian Movie Projects
CANNES– Backup Media Partners With Rentrak On Moviechainer
CANNES: IFC Buys Mads Mikkelsen Western 'Salvation' for U.S. Distribution
Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
Solve the daily Crossword
