Film4 to develop Frank with Men Who Stare At Goats writers.

LONDON, Friday 19th February 2009:  – Film4, the film financing division of Channel 4, today announced that it is developing Frank, a new film based on a fictionalised story about a musical genius and his band, with the writers behind offbeat comedy, The Men Who Stare At Goats.

In the strange world of the 1980s musical subculture one man stands out as the strangest of them all. Frank tells the story of a hidden musical master and the disciple who loves him so much he might just have to destroy him.

Frank – a mystery inside an enigma inside a large plastic head.

Lenny Abrahamson (Garage, Adam and Paul) is now attached to direct the movie, which is being written by broadcaster and novelist Jon Ronson (Men Who Stare At Goats, Them) and acclaimed screenwriter Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare At Goats, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People). The film is currently at the script development stage with shooting scheduled for later in the year. The script has been attracting attention since it appeared on the 2009 Brit List of industry recommended unproduced scripts.

David Barron, who has served as a producer on the Harry Potter movies, and Stevie Lee of Runway Fridge Productions are on board as producers.

David Barron, said: “Stevie and I are very excited to be collaborating with such a brilliant creative team as Jon, Peter, Lenny and Film4.”

Katherine Butler, Senior Commissioning Executive, Film4, said: “We are passionate about this brilliantly original script and now Lenny is the perfect collaborator to take us into the wild and wonderful world of Frank.”

Film4’s current slate of British feature films either in post production or due to be released includes Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones, Chris Morris’ Four Lions, Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go based on Ishiguro’s novel of the same name, Peter Mullan’s Neds, Mike Leigh’s Another Day, Richard Ayoade’s Submarine, Hideo Nakata’s Chatroom and finally Kevin Macdonald’s Roman epic, The Eagle of the Ninth.

Notes to editors: Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. The company develops and co-finances film productions and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established. Film4 is a founding partner of the Warp X digital studio. Film4’s latest release is Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones. Other 2009 releases include Sam Taylor-Wood’s Nowhere Boy; Paul King’s Bunny & the Bull; Ken Loach’s Looking For Eric; Danny Boyle’s, Slumdog Millionaire; Steve McQueen’s Hunger; Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges; Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky and Michael Winterbottom’s Genova. Upcoming Film4 releases include Xiaolu Guo’s She, A Chinese, winner of the Golden Leopard at Locarno Film Festival in 2009; Chris Morris’ Four Lions and Hideo Nakata’s Chatroom. Currently completing post production are Kevin Macdonald’s The Eagle of the Ninth; Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go; Peter Mullan’s Neds, and Mike Leigh’s Another Year. Richard Ayode’s Submarine and shortly going into production Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block.

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