EXCLUSIVE: UK firm Mister Smith Entertainment has boarded Toronto and Rotterdam premiere Maddie’s Secret, and will launch sales on the film at next week’s European Film Market (EFM, February 12-18).
The comedy is the directorial debut of John Early, a US comedian and star of HBO Max’s Search Party.
Maddie’s Secret had its world premiere last September as the opening night film in Toronto’s Discovery strand.
Early stars as a woman named Maddie Ralph, a plucky dishwasher who leaps to viral superstardom at a trendy food content creation company. While Maddie’s life seems brilliant, mounting professional pressures reawaken a long-dormant struggle with an eating disorder.
The cast also includes Early’s frequent collaborator Kate Berlant, Eric Rahill, Claudia O’Doherty, Vanessa Bayer, Conner O’Malley, Chris Bauer and Kristen Johnston.
US producers are Harris Mayersohn for Dogma 3000, I Saw the TV Glow producer Luca Intili for Third Place, and Early.
Magnolia will release in the US, as previously announced.
Early is a prominent figure in the US alt-comedy scene, with credits including his HBO stand up special Now More Than Ever, A24 sketch special Would It Kill You To Laugh?, and as an actor and producer in Neon’s Sundance 2024 premiere Stress Positions, from writer-director Theda Hammel.
“Every once in a while, a film comes along that is so audacious in its approach that it feels ahead of the cultural moment,” said Mister Smith’s senior vice president, international sales and acquisitions, Shane Kelly.
“As their fans know well, and critics have discovered, John and his collaborators are setting a new standard in comedy and demand attention. This one is for the discerning buyers who know a soon-to-be cult classic and an exciting new auteur voice when they see one. We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with these boundary-pushing producers and the team at Magnolia.”
Executive producers are Chris Quintos Cathcart and Tyler Boehm for Unapologetic Projects, Hannah Dweck and Theodore Schaefer for Dweck Productions, Sarah Herrman, Deb Tam, Matthew Rosenthal and Marissa Heringer.
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