London-based international sales outfit Cornerstone Films has boarded Catherine Hardwicke’s comedy Mafia Mamma to which Toni Collette has signed to star. CAA Media Finance is overseeing the US sale.
Monica Bellucci and Rob Huebel will also star in the film that is set to shoot in Italy in spring 2022.
The film is about a woman living in suburban America who heads to Italy for the funeral of her estranged grandfathter and gets more than she bargained for when she inherits his mafia empire.
Mafia Mamma is based on an original idea by French writer and filmmaker Amanda Sthers and is being produced by Collette under her Vocab Films banner together with Sthers through Idea(l) and New Sparta’s Christopher Simon. The screenplay was written by Debbie Jhoon and Michael J Feldman.
“I couldn’t be more excited to make this film with Catherine and the team,” Collette said in a statement. “It is pure, fish out of water fun with a firm feminist backbone. I think we could all handle an uplifting, laugh out loud story like this right about now. Bring it on Italy!”
The project reunites Hardwicke and Collette, who previously worked together on the emotional comedy “Miss You Already” starring Drew Barrymore.
“Toni is one of the most versatile actresses on the planet — she can be intensely emotional, super-sexy and LOL hilarious,” Hardwicke said in a statement. “She’s going to dazzle as Kristin. And I personally relate to this woman who has to tap into her inner warrior and earn the respect of a bunch of men — especially after working in the film business. This story is empowering in the most fun way!”
Cornerstone is selling the film at next month’s online American Film Market (November 1-5).