EXCLUSIVE: Archstone Entertainment is launching world sales in Cannes on Oscar nominee Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) and BAFTA and Cannes Best Actor winner Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner) crime-thriller Murdering Michael Malloy, which is inspired by real events.
From director Raymond De Felitta (City Island), the film is aiming to shoot third quarter 2026.
Based on a true story, Roth “will play struggling bar owner Tony Marino, who along with his partner, Bastogne, takes out a life-insurance policy on neighborhood drunk Michael Malloy (Spall). The pair then attempt to kill Malloy for the payout—only to discover Malloy is seemingly impossible to kill. As Marino’s increasingly desperate schemes continue to fail, the two men form an unexpected bond, building toward a haunting final act of sacrifice against the backdrop of Depression-era New York”.
De Felitta co-wrote the screenplay with David Zellerford. The film is produced by Stephen Endelman, who is also composing; Dan Grodnik; Louise Chater, and Jeff Wallner of Harbor Lights Entertainment and Icarus Entertainment Fund, with casting by Shakyra Dowling.
Raymond De Felitta was Academy Award–nominated for short Bronx Cheers and his feature debut Café Society premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. His subsequent features Two Family House and City Island earned Audience Awards at Sundance and Tribeca, respectively. De Felitta’s later work includes the crime drama Rob the Mob and the ABC miniseries Madoff, which earned him a Directors Guild of America nomination.
De Felitta stated: “I’ve long been passionate about making Murdering Michael Malloy and now, twenty-five years after writing the screenplay, I have the perfect two actors to portray the lead roles. Tim Roth and Timothy Spall are truly ‘actors actors’ and I know that both will bring tremendous force, honesty and humor to a crime story that is not only a dark comedy but also morality tale about two equally bankrupted souls who find redemption in each other. In many ways, it’s a twisted story and I can’t think of two more wonderfully twisted actors I’d rather work with.”
Legal representation is provided by James Pacitti and Lee & Thompson, with Archstone Entertainment handling worldwide sales.
Michael Slifkin of Archstone added: “We are incredibly excited to be involved with Murdering Michael Malloy. The film brings together an extraordinary cast, visionary filmmakers, and a truly unique story that is both wildly entertaining and emotionally unexpected.”
Roth is represented by CAA and Markham, Froggatt and Irwin. Spall is represented by Markham, Froggatt and Irwin, and managed by Berwick & Kovacik.
