Cannes Market Dailies

Sales, production and finance outfit Protagonist Pictures, announced today the new drama-thriller, Press Your Luck, starring Emmy and Golden Globe winner Paul Walter Hauser (“Black Bird,” Richard Jewell, I,Tonya). Set in 1984, Press Your Luck is based on the incredible true story of Michael Larson, an unemployed ice-cream truck driver from Ohio, who steps onto the game show “Press Your Luck” harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.

The all-star ensemble cast also includes Walton Goggins (“Fallout”, “The Righteous Gemstones,” The Hateful Eight), David Strathairn (Nomadland, Good Night and Good Luck), Emmy-nominated Maisie Williams (“The New Look,” “Game of Thrones”), Haley Bennett (Swallow, The Magnificent Seven), Shamier Anderson (John Wick: Chapter 4, “Invasion”), David Rysdahl (Fargo, Oppenheimer), Johnny Knoxville (Jackass, “Reboot”), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker, ”Chicago P.D.”), Patti Harrison (Theater Camp, Together Together), and Shaunette Renée Wilson (Indiana Jones, Black Panther). Samir Oliveros directs from a screenplay co-written with Maggie Briggs (Joyland), and the film is produced by Plenty Good (Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint), and co-produced by Fabula (El Conde)

The first look photo is revealed for the film, which is currently in post-production.  Protagonist Pictures are handling international sales, and CAA Media Finance represent North American rights.

“Samir has crafted a unique and stylish telling of the incredible true story of a down on his luck everyman gaming the system,” said Protagonist Pictures’ CEO, Dave Bishop.  “We couldn’t be happier to be working with the very talented Samir and our friends at Fabula and Plenty Good.”

“I kept having this recurring dream with a white-bearded man. I couldn’t make any sense of it until I stumbled upon his face on a VHS tape I found at a thrift shop. That’s how I learned of Michael’s story,” said Oliveros. “During our next encounter he said if we made the film in time for the 40th anniversary of his feat, he would guide us in the right direction. I’m glad we could make it happen with the support of such incredible partners.”

Amanda Freedman, founding partner of Plenty Good added,  “We’re drawn to films that don’t behave. Whether it’s an unruly character, an unconventional structure, or irreverent style, our movies challenge what’s expected. Michael’s bold behavior inspired us, and we hope it inspires you.”

“At Fabula, we strive to work with the best international filmmakers to make elevated and insightful stories,” said Andrew Hevia, Head of Film & TV for Fabula’s North American office. “Samir has delivered a gripping film anchored by an incredible performance from Paul Walter Hauser.”

Press Your Luck is produced by Amanda Freedman, and executive produced by Andrew Hevia, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín , Paul Walter Hauser, Juan Pablo Solano, Simon Beltran, Sara McFarlane,  Damiano Tucci, Tiziano Tucci, Sophia Banks, Arun Thapar, Divya Shahani, and Roger Lolly. Constanza Muñoz co-produced.

Writer-director Samir Oliveros’ first feature, Bad Lucky Goat, premiered at SXSW in 2017 and went on to screen at over seventy festivals including BFI London and the TIFF - Next Wave. In 2019 his film short, Cactus Blossom, earned a DGA Jury Prize.  Oliveros is a founding partner in the production company Plenty Good.

Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Paul Walter Hauser’s upcoming projects include the Chris Farley biopic, with Josh Gad set to direct and Lorne Michaels and Erin David producing, Paramount Pictures’ Naked Gun starring opposite Liam Neeson, the latest Marvel installment Fantastic Four to be directed by Matt Shakman, Apple Original Films’ The Instigators helmed by Doug Liman, and Tony Tost’s directorial debut Americana, opposite Sydney Sweeney, which was recently acquired by Lionsgate. Additional titles include Dennis Lehane’s “Black Bird” for Apple TV+ as well as Apple TV+’s hit comedic series “The Afterparty” from Lord & Miller, Clint Eastwood's Richard Jewell for Warner Bros, three-time Academy Award nominated film I, Tonya, Spike Lee’s Blackkklansman, Cruella starring Emma Stone and Netflix’s “Cobra Kai.”

Paul Walter Hauser is repped by CAA, Artists First, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham LLP.; Walton Goggins is repped by CAA, and Darris Hatch Management; David Strathairn is repped by CAA and Ryan Entertainment; Maisie Williams is repped by WME, Ocean Avenue, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein; Haley Bennet is repped by WME, and Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver Thompson; and Johnny Knoxville is repped by CAA, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

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About Plenty Good

Plenty Good is a production company founded by AFI grads who met at an extracurricular vegetable club. Their first feature, Chronicles of a Wandering Saint, directed by Tomas Gomez-Bustillo, won the Adam Yauch Award at SXSW and garnered 3 Independent Spirit Award nominations. It will have its theatrical release this June.

About Fabula

Fabula is the Academy Award-winning production company founded by brothers Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín, who won the Best Foreign Film Oscar in 2018 for A Fantastic Woman, along with an Independent Spirit Award in the same category, and the Silver Bear from the Berlin Film Festival for Best Screenplay. Their keen eye for talent has borne fruit with such internationally acclaimed movies as Oscar nominated El Conde (Cinematography 2024),  Spencer (Best Actress Kirsten Stewart, 2022) and Jackie (Best Actress Natalie Portman, Costume Design, Original Score, 2017). El Conde and Jackie both won the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Osella Award for Best Screenplay.  Additional film credits include Ema, which won the UNIMED Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, and El Club, which won the Grand Jury Prize Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2015.

About Protagonist Pictures

Protagonist Pictures is a sales, finance, and production company with a proven track record in outstanding films and commercial successes. Based in the UK, the company handles films from around the world, always maintaining a strong focus on filmmakers with exceptional vision and storytelling skills. Protagonist Pictures has championed groundbreaking filmmakers since its inception, including Chloe Zhao, Joanna Hogg, Yorgos Lanthimos, Sean Baker, Rose Glass, Taiki Waititi and Pawel Pawlikowski.

Recent titles executive produced by Protagonist Pictures include Sundance and Berlin film festival selection “The Outrun” starring Saoirse Ronan and Paapa Essiedu, Thordur Palsson’s elevated horror “The Damned,” starring Odessa Young and Joe Cole, and set to premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, and the ensemble comedy “Rumours,” directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson, starring Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander, world premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

The company is also currently representing international rights for David and Nathan Zellner’s “Sasquatch Sunset,” starring Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg, which premiered in Sundance and Berlin; the delightful comedy “Summer Camp”, with Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodward and Eugene Levy; the edge of your seat thriller “Berlin Nobody”, with Eric Bana and Sadie Sink; the evocative coming of age thriller “Spirit in the Blood” from C. May Borgstrom; Nick Moore’s romcom “This Time Next Year”, adapted from the NYT bestseller, starring Lucien Laviscount and Sophie Cookson. The slate also includes Christopher Smith’ high concept horror comedy “Spider Island” (launched at AFM 2023), Eli Craig’s highly anticipated horror adaptation “Clown in a Cornfield,” and “H is for Hawk” starring Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson.