Los Angeles and London-based management and production company 42 (The Silent Twins, “The Flatshare”) announced today that Academy Award nominee Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes, “The Crown”) joined double Academy Award nominee Steve Coogan in The Penguin Lessons, from two-time Academy Award nominated director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty, Military Wives). Vivian El Jaber, Bjorn Gustafsson, Alfonsina Carrocio, Micaela Breque, Tomas Pozzi and Ramiro Blas round out the cast, with principal photography recently wrapping in Spain.
In addition, Lionsgate has picked up UK rights to the picture. 42’s Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh are producing, while Intake Films and Rolling Dice will finance the film, alongside Aperture Media Partners. Nostromo’s Adrián Guerra and Andy Noble will also produce with Robert Walak. Intake Films’ Joshua Horsfield and Nia Vazirani for Rolling Dice will executive produce, alongside Jeff Pope, who wrote the screenplay, Josh Varney, Tom Michell, and Coogan. Rocket Science is handling international sales on the feature, while CAA Media Finance is representing the U.S. rights.
Based on Penguin Random House’s Times Top Ten bestselling book of the same name by Tom Michell, which sold in over 50 territories worldwide, The Penguin Lessons is the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, he discovered instead a complicated and divided nation – and a class of practically unteachable young boys. However, when he finds a small penguin wa
