“Monkey Man”: Dev Patel’s Directorial Debut, Backed by Universal and Jordan Peele, Set for Big Screen Release
Explore the journey of "Monkey Man", Dev Patel's directorial debut. Discover how Universal and Jordan Peele joined forces to bring this action-thriller to the big screen in April.
In a significant development for the film industry, Universal and Jordan Peele have come on board to release Dev Patel's directorial debut, "Monkey Man". The action-thriller, which was previously set up at Netflix, is now slated to hit cinemas on April 4.
The decision to shift "Monkey Man" from a streaming platform to a theatrical release came after Peele had a chance to see the movie. Insiders reveal that Peele was so taken with Patel's vision that he believed it deserved a theatrical release. Universal will market and distribute "Monkey Man" through its feature film deal with Peele's Monkeypaw banner.
"Monkey Man" has been described as akin to "John Wick in Mumbai". The film draws inspiration from the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage. Patel, in addition to directing, also stars in the film. He plays Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club. Night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. The plot thickens as he sets out on a quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.
The film was shot in Mumbai and features an international cast, including Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Sikandar Kher, and Makarand Deshpande.
Netflix reportedly acquired rights to "Monkey Man" in spring 2021 for around $30 million, but the status of that deal is unclear. Sources say Netflix wanted global rights, but some international territories may have already been sold.
"Monkey Man" is produced by Patel, Jomon Thomas, Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Christine Haebler, and Anjay Nagpal.
The anticipation for "Monkey Man" is palpable, and with the backing of Universal and Jordan Peele, the film is poised to make a significant impact. As we await its release, the excitement continues to build. Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling cinematic journey.
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