British filmmaker Michael Winterbottom has cast Dev Patel as the lead in his next film “The Wedding Guest.”
The film is largely set in India. Winterbottom has met actors in Mumbai and is currently scouting locations, but has not yet revealed plot details.
Variety spoke with Winterbottom at the Kolkata International Film Festival where he is part of a British Council delegation. A retrospective of Winterbottom’s films, including “Welcome to Sarajevo” and “The Road to Guantanamo,” is drawing sellout crowds.
Winterbottom’s Revolution Films will produce alongside London- and Los Angeles-based Riverstone Pictures. Deepak Nayar and Nik Bower founded Riverstone in 2014 with the backing of India’s Reliance Entertainment. The company currently has Raja Gosnell’s “Show Dogs,” and Annabel Jankel’s “Tell It to the Bees” in production.
Winterbottom’s regular producing partner Melissa Parmenter will serve as producer alongside Nayar. Principal photography is expected to start early 2018.
Popular on Variety
Winterbottom’s “Trishna” was also shot in India, as well as parts of “A Mighty Heart” and “Code 46.”
Patel debuted in 2008’s “Slumdog Millionaire” and has since appeared in several India-set movies including “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” “The Man Who Knew Infinity,” “Lion,” and “Hotel Mumbai.” His performance in “Lion” earned him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor in 2017.
