Oct 01, 2012

Elijah Wood (THE LORD OF THE RINGS, WILFRED) is set to play the lead role in the new comedy feature film THE LATE BLOOMER from Dignity Film Finance (DFF), it was announced today by the producers.  Jesse Israel of Ineffable Pictures, Heidi Jo Markel of Eclectic Pictures will produce and DFF President Maggie Monteith, will executive produce and finance the film.

Expected to go into production in January 2013, Monteith produces the film with Israel, Markel and Brent Emery, (Coup d’Etat Films).  Raphael Kryszek, Ineffable Pictures’ founder, is also executive producing. 

International sales agent Cargo Entertainment, led by Marina Grasic, Jan Korbelin and Mark Lindsay is on board to handle International distribution rights to the film and will introduce THE LATE BLOOMER to overseas buyers at AFM in November.

Directed by Randall Einhorn (FX’s “WILFRED,” NBC’s “The Office,”), THE LATE BLOOMER is based on the 2001 acclaimed memoir Man Made: A Memoir of My Body by Ken Baker and adapted for the screen by Joe Nussbaum and Paul Kaplan & Mark Torgove. 

THE LATE BLOOMER is the amazing true story of a man who found out at close to age 30 that he hadn’t yet totally undergone puberty but when the medical condition preventing it was removed, in several short, overwhelming weeks did so.

 “The combination of Einhorn and Wood is exceptional, as we’ve seen with the success of “WILFRED”,” said Monteith. “I know that they will honor Baker’s true story in a very entertaining way.”

Wood will next be seen in Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY opposite Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett to be released in December 2012 through Warner Bros. Pictures, reprising his starring role in the epic Oscar-winning and worldwide blockbuster film trilogy THE LORD OF THE RINGS.   His movie MANIAC, a remake of the 1980 serial-killer classic, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and will be released by IFC Midnight early 2013. He is the lead voice on Disney XD’s animated series “Tron: Uprising” and can currently be seen on Season 2 of FX’s “Wilfred.” He is currently filming the psychological thriller GRAND PIANO opposite John Cusack. Wood has starred in several acclaimed films in his young career including CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED and BOBBY and provided his voice for Warner Bros. Pictures animated hits, HAPPY FEET and HAPPY FEET TWO.

Einhorn is one of the most prolific directors of cutting-edge television comedy working today. “Wilfred”-- the popular FX series which also stars Wood – is currently in its second season. Additional credits include NBC’s “The Office,” CBS’ “Parks and Recreation,” “Nurse Jackie” for Showtime and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” for FX. Einhorn was nominated for two Primetime Emmys for his cinematography on CBS’ “Survivor.”

 "THE LATE BLOOMER is the type of wonderful heartfelt comedy that I like to engage in. Puberty can be difficult at best and has the potential to be extremely comedic in normal circumstances,” said Einhorn. “This true story is anything but a normal circumstance. That truth is a new twist on something we all know well and Elijah is just perfect to play the lead role. It is clear to me that Dignity gets my vision for THE LATE BLOOMER and I am delighted to be working with Maggie and her team."

 Baker is an American journalist, author and television personality, currently serving as E! News’ Chief Correspondent.  Prior to that, Baker worked at US Weekly and People Magazine and has appeared on television for Fox News, The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC and HLN.  Baker is the author of four other books:  Baker's second memoir, They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven: A Dream, a Team and My Comeback Season chronicled the season he spent as pro hockey's oldest rookie; Hollywood Hussein a satirical take on the capture of Saddam Hussein; The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable) which he co-authored and Fangirl which hits bookstores in October.