Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons, Henry Winkler & Don Johnson Set For Simon Curtis Comedy ‘Encore’ As Protagonist Launches Sales – Cannes Market

Simon Curtis’ upcoming comedy Encoreabout a group of veteran actors whose passion for their profession is reignited through a retirement home production, has gathered a quartet of Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy winning stars for the ensemble cast.

The feature reunites eight-time Academy Award-nominee and three-time Emmy Award-winner Glenn Close and Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons 34 years after their critically acclaimed hit, Reversal of Fortune.

Three-time Emmy-winner Henry Winkler and Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winner Don Johnson have also signed for the feature.

Close and Irons play former Broadway icons Marie and Nigel, who are new residents of a retirement home, where they discover a community of forgotten talents.

Motivated to revive Nigel’s passion for theatre and embrace this new chapter in their life, Marie decides to stage a production with the residents, pulling everyone out of their past and into their present.

UK sales and finance company Protagonist Pictures unveiled the starry cast on Thursday as it launches worldwide sales on the movie ahead of Cannes.

Encore is written by Academy Award nominee Robert Nelson Jacobs (Chocolat), and produced by Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner for Temple Hill Entertainment (The Twilight Saga, The Maze Runner Trilogy).

Ryan Cunningham serves as co-producer. Protagonist Pictures is handling international rights, while UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance will be handling US sales.

“Full of emotion and laughter and anchored by a fantastic cast, Encore is exactly the type of feel-good comedy audiences are craving – the perfect film at the perfect time to present to our buyers at Cannes,” said Protagonist Pictures CEO Dave Bishop.

“With Simon’s undeniable creative force behind the camera, and the extraordinary track record of our friends at Temple Hill, I cannot think of a better team of filmmakers to partner with on this project.”

“I loved Robert’s touching and hilarious script from the moment I read it and it has been thrilling to see some of the greatest actors in the world respond in the same way,” said Curtis. “I look forward to continuing to build a dream cast so audiences can imagine a group of their favourite actors living out their golden years under the same roof.”

Founded by Godfrey and Bowen in 2006, Temple Hill Entertainment’s blockbuster film franchises include the book-to-film adaptations The Twilight Saga and The Maze Runner trilogy, which have grossed over $5.3B and $949M worldwide respectively.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Robert’s wonderful screenplay, Encore, to life under the artful direction of Simon Curtis, who has done a masterful job of assembling a group of talent that will be a joy to watch on screen together,” said Godfrey.

“Encore celebrates the idea that every day should be approached as the first day of the rest of your life, and it does so with immense heart and hilarity.”

Curtis is best known for directing My Week with Marilynwhich earned star Michelle Williams an Academy Award nomination.

Additional directing credits include Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds, Goodbye Christopher Robin starring Margot Robbie and Domhnall Gleeson, and The Art of Racing in the Rainstarring Amanda Seyfried and Milo Ventimiglia.

Glenn Close is repped by CAA, MGMT Entertainment, and Loeb & Loeb. Jeremy Irons is repped by CAA, Henry Winkler is repped by CAA and Management 360, and Don Johnson is repped by CAA and Edelstein, Laird & Sobel.