We were wondering what was going on with Oscar nominated actor Dev Patel’s action thriller, his directorial debut, “Monkey Man.” Well, for one thing, it’s no longer being distributed by Netflix.
Jordan Peele and his Monkey Paw production have suddenly announced they have hopped onboard the film, just as Universal announced the new trailer today. The film is now due for release in theaters April 5 via Universal.
Insiders say Peele had a chance to see the movie, and was so taken with Patel’s vision that he believed it deserved a theatrical release
The film stars Patel and Sharlto Copley (“District 9”) and centers on a recently released ex-felon living in India, who “struggles to adjust to a world of corporate greed and eroding spiritual values”. It was shot and completed in 2021, and Netflix soon after acquired the rights for around $30 million.
As mentioned, “Monkey Man” is directed by Patel from an original story he concocted and a screenplay co-written with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”).