Originally published at: https://geektherapy.org/iconic-events-lands-maureen-bharoocha-directed-dark-comedy-starring-academy-award-winner-rita-moreno/
Author: Newsroom
LOS ANGELES, February 1, 2024 – Iconic Events announced today they have acquired Maureen Bharoocha’s (Golden Arm, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, Grand Crew) Hitchcockian high school dark comedy, The Prank, from XRM MEDIA and SNEAK PREVIEW ENTERTAINMENT. ICONIC will release the film theatrically on March 15, 2024 on approximately 200 screens. Written by Rebecca Flinn-White (Period’s Big Adventure, Journey to the East) and Zak White (Creepshow), the film stars Connor Kalopsis (Outmatched, The Grinder, Bad Words), Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever, Blockers, Santa Clarita Diet), and the legendary, EGOT-winning Rita Moreno (West Side Story, 80 for Brady, One Day at a Time). The Prank premiered to enthusiastic audiences at SXSW 2022. MYRIAD PICTURES is selling the film at EFM.
Keith David (21 Bridges, Night School, Nope), Kate Flannery (The Office, Golden Arm), Meredith Salenger (Will & Grace, Daredevil, Grey’s Anatomy), Jonathan Kimmel (Trophy Wife, South Park, The Sarah Silverman Program.), Nathan Janak (Drama Club, All That), Betsy Sodaro (Ghosts, Disjointed, Big Time in Hollywood, FL), Talia Jackson (Family Reunion, Raised by Wolves), Romel De Silva (Ghostwriter, He’s All That, Heathers), and Ahmed Bharoocha (Golden Arm, Dream Corp LLC) round out this talented cast.
Ben (Kalopsis) is your typical high-school overachiever. He’s organized, careful, goal-oriented, and extremely dedicated to school. His best friend, Tanner (Young), couldn’t be more opposite. She is a lackadaisical, messy, slacker, who lives in the moment. They aren’t popular, but they don’t seem to care that much because they have each other. Ben has a stern, mean and cruel physics teacher, Mrs. Wheeler (Moreno). She has been teaching at the school for decades and has a reputation for being the hardest, coldest, strictest faculty member. She fails Ben’s entire class unless a student who cheated comes forward. When no one does, Tanner and Ben hatch a plan to ruin her life and frame her for murder on social media.
Multi-hyphenate Bharoocha, who is half Irish Catholic and half Indian-Pakistani Burmese Muslim, was named one of IndieWire’s rising female directors in 2020. She is best known for her masterful crafting of complex characters and genre-bending storytelling. “I’m excited to bring The Prank to the big screen so audiences can watch the legendary Rita Moreno in a way they’ve never seen her before,” said Bharoocha. “These days, not many movies get a chance to play in theaters, so this is truly an honor. I invite people to come out and share this experience – The Prank has laughs, thrills, twists, and all your favorite comedy stars. Support your local cinema!”
“From their first viewing at last year’s packed Santa Barbara Film Festival screening, the Iconic team showed unparalleled enthusiasm for the film,” said Steven J. Wolfe of Sneak Preview Entertainment. “It’s exciting to work with such a talented group of executives so committed to creating alternative strategies to successfully maneuver through today’s complex theatrical market.”
The Prank is a Sneak Preview Entertainment production in association with Inphenate. Steven J. Wolfe produced. XRM Media financed, with Co-Founder Michael Y. Chow and Inphenate’s Glenn Rigberg serving as Executive Producers.
The deal was brokered by Nick Royak on behalf of Iconic Events and John McGrath and Rena Ronson of UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.