American Film Market Dailies

Los Angeles, CA (November 2, 2015) – Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) and Vince Vaughn (upcoming HACKSAW RIDGE, INTO THE WILD) are set to star in the drama THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE ANTICHRIST to be directed by two time Oscar nominee writer/director Roland Joffé (THE KILLING FIELDS, THE SCARLET LETTER), it was announced today by Emmy Award nominated producer Craig Baumgarten (HOOK, NEVER BACK DOWN).

Joffé co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Ashton. Currently in pre-production, THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE ANTICHRIST will begin shooting in early 2016.

13 Films is handling international rights and will introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market. WME Global is handling North American rights.

Kim Ashton serves as executive producer on the feature film.

Based on the play The Archbishop and The Antichrist by Michael Ashton, the feature film follows a fictionalized account of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s (Whitaker) meetings with brutal murderer Piet Blomfield (Vaughn), who seeks redemption for the atrocities he’s committed while he serves a life sentence in prison in post-apartheid South Africa.

“Forest Whitaker brings a great sense of depth and power to all his performances and he is the perfect match for Tutu’s complex character. Vince Vaughn continues to prove his wide-ranging acting skills following his more dramatic roles in INTO THE WILD and the upcoming HACKSAW RIDGE. Under the direction of Roland Joffé, their combined star power and talent is undeniable,” said Tannaz Anisi, President of 13 Films.

Forest Whitaker is currently filming Walt Disney Studios’ highly anticipated ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, which will be released December 16, 2016, and will next appear in Paramount’s science fiction STORY OF YOUR LIFE alongside Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Whitaker is most known for his award-winning portrayal of Idi Amin in THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, earning an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award, amongst other honors, for his performance. Other film credits include Oscar Best Picture winner PLATOON alongside Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, and Tom Berenger, and LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER with Oprah Winfrey and John Cusack.

Vince Vaughn is currently filming Mel Gibson’s HACKSAW RIDGE, co-starring Hugo Weaving and Andrew Garfield. He has starred in successful big budget comedies such as THE INTERNSHIP, with Owen Wilson and Rose Byrne, DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY, with Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, and WEDDING CRASHERS, with Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and Isla Fisher. His other credits include adventure biopic INTO THE WILD, with Emile Hirsch and the romantic comedy THE BREAK-UP, with Jennifer Aniston.

Writer/Director Roland Joffé started his directorial film career with THE KILLING FIELDS, which won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, Cinematography, and Film Editing, and also earned Joffé a nomination for Best Director. His other credits include directing and producing THE SCARLET LETTER, starring Demi Moore and Gary Oldman, and directing historical adventure THE MISSION, starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, for which he was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Director.

Producer Craig Baumgarten has produced over twenty films and television movies. His credits include HOOK, starring Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams, and actioner NEVER BACK DOWN, starring Sean Faris and Amber Heard. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for producing ABC’s A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. He was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for producing SHATTERED GLASS, starring Hayden Christensen.

Whitaker is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment. Vaughn is repped by WME.

ABOUT 13 FILMS: 13 Films is an international distribution and finance company based in Los Angeles founded by Tannaz Anisi.

13 Films’ slate at AFM includes 2 films making their market screening premieres: the thriller A PATCH OF FOG starring Stephen Graham (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Conleth Hill (“Game of Thrones”) which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and the crime thriller MANHATTAN NOCTURNE starring Oscar winner Adrien Brody.

The company is also selling the supernatural thriller VOICE FROM THE STONE starring Emilia Clarke (HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” TERMINATOR GENISYS) and Marton Csokas (THE EQUALIZER) in post-production, the actioner EXTORTION starring Eion Bailey (“Once Upon a Time”), Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS) and Danny Glover which recently wrapped production and the comedy CHRONICALLY METROPOLITAN starring Chris Noth, Mary-Louise Parker, Shiloh Fernandez (WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS) and Ashley Benson (“Pretty Little Liars”).

In pre-production, 13 Films is also handling foreign sales to science fiction film SPECTRUM, the thriller EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, set to star Michael Nyqvist and Famke Janssen and executive produced by Steve Buscemi and ENTRY LEVEL, produced by FINAL DESTINATION and AMERICAN PIE producers Craig Perry and Sheila Taylor and to be directed by Franck Khalfoun (upcoming AMITYVILLE: THE AWAKENING).

-PRESS RELEASE-

-Edited by Vanessa McMahon; November 1, 2015