British thespian Bill Nighy and “Gavin & Stacey” star Mathew Horne have joined the cast of genre-bending fantasy feature “Welcome to Paradise,” alongside WWE superstar Jordynne Grace making her screen debut.
Richard Summers-Calvert (“Drive Me to the End”) is writing and directing the indie, which is currently in post-production. The surreal fantasy film blends psychological drama, dark comedy and mythic surrealism, centering on a mysterious carnival where winning may mean survival and losing could trap visitors in an alternate reality forever.
Rising stars Georgina Bennett and Kirk Patterson topline the ensemble, which also includes Togo Igawa (“Tetris,” “Johnny English”), Tracey Wilkinson (“Carnival Row”) and the late Simon Fisher-Becker (“Harry Potter,” “Doctor Who”). Nighy provides voice work for the project.
The story follows Lisa, who awakens on a mysterious beach with no memory. After meeting a creature who tells her she’s arrived at “The Carnival,” she discovers a vibrant venue populated by humans and magical beasts. There she meets Harvey, another lost soul, as they attempt to uncover the truth about their pasts and find redemption — though everything comes with a price.
“I watched this film going in blind, and I’m now convinced Richard Summers-Calvert is both a genre-bending genius and a deeply deranged soul — in the best way,” said actor-disability advocate Adam Pearson (“The Elephant Man”). “This film is a joy to behold.”
Summers-Calvert describes the project as “ambitious and unapologetically bold.”
“Some may doubt it could work, but that’s because they’ve never witnessed something like this in the flesh,” the helmer said. “This film has moments that people will have never seen, heard, or even dreamt before — and that’s what excites me most.”
Crucible Films and Silent D Pictures are producing, with the latter’s Djonny Chen overseeing. Silent D’s recent slate includes “High Wire” (starring Isabella Wei of “1899”), “Finding My Voice” (with Michelle Ryan of “Bionic Woman”), “Follow The Dark” (with James Cosmo of “Game of Thrones”) and Indonesian box office hit “Before Night Falls.”
The film is eyeing a late 2025 delivery with major festival berths in its sights.
Leave a Reply