The Bookie & the Bruiser: starring Theo James and Vince Vaughn

Anton Handling International Rights, UTA Independent Film Group and Range Select Arranged Financing and Represent North American Rights

Theo James (Neon’s The Monkey, HBO’s “The White Lotus,” Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen”) is joining Vince Vaughn (Dragged Across Concrete, Brawl In Cell Block 99) in the gangster thriller The Bookie & the Bruiser, it was announced today. The film is written and directed by S. Craig Zahler (winner of Best Director Sitges Film Festival for Bone Tomahawk).

The film is produced by Academy Award-winner Anthony Katagas (12 Years a Slave, Ad Astra, Adrian Lyne’s Deep Water) via his Keep Your Head Productions alongside Dave Caplan (Longlegs, The Monkey). C2 Motion Picture Group is fully financing the project.

Anton is representing international rights to The Bookie & the Bruiser and will continue sales at the Marche du Film. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Select arranged the financing and are representing the North American distribution rights. 

The Bookie & the Bruiser is set in 1959 New York City and features a pensive, Jewish fellow named Rivner (James) and an oversized Italian American tough named Boscolo (Vaughn). Having served in World War II, the two return as changed men, no longer fitting into their old lives. Unwilling to take orders or play by the rules of polite society, the two partner up as a bookmaker and his enforcer and run an illicit gambling operation that proves highly profitable—but dangerous. Their operation thrives until they’re caught in a violent power struggle between the Mafia and an Irish gang, forcing them into a violent fight for survival.

Theo James gained recognition starring in Lionsgate’s Divergent film series alongside Shailene Woodley. He has since starred in HBO’s multiple Emmy-winning series “The White Lotus” with Jennifer Coolidge and Aubrey Plaza, Guy Ritchie’s Emmy-winning series “The Gentlemen” alongside Kaya Scodelario,  Netflix’s How It Ends, and The Monkey with Sarah Levy, Osgood Perkins and Elijah Wood. Additional credits include HBO’s “The Time Traveler’s Wife” with Rose Leslie, Mr. Malcolm’s List alongside Ashley Park, and Dual starring Karen Gillan and Aaron Paul. Upcoming films include Anton’s action thriller Fuze alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

ABOUT ANTON

Helmed by producer Sébastien Raybaud and headquartered in London, with offices in Los Angeles and Berlin, Anton’s current film slate includes the horror thriller The Shepherd starring David Dastmalchian and Georgina Campbell; the survival thriller Left Seat starring Michelle Rodriguez and Richard Gere;  Zachary Wigon’s psychological horror film Victorian Psycho from Longlegs producer Dan Kagan; David Mackenzie’s thriller Fuze starring Theo James and Aaron Taylor Johnson; Night of the Zoopocalypse, the CGI animated feature from the Studios behind Despicable Me, Ice Age: Collision Course and Paw Patrol; Memoir of a Snail, the stop motion animated feature from Academy Award-winner Adam Elliott, which was Oscar Nominated for Best Animated Feature, took home the top Cristal Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, was awarded the Best Film at the London Film Festival and screened in Official Selection at the Telluride Film Festival; Martin Campbell’s Cleaner starring Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen; the survival thriller A Prayer for the Dying starring Johnny Flynn and John C. Reilly, currently in post-production; and Claude Barras’ animated feature Savages which enjoyed its World Premiere in Official Selection at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Additional projects include Greenland: Migration starring Gerard Butler, who reprises his role in the sequel to Anton’s blockbuster Greenland, currently in post-production.

Recently, Anton developed, produced and financed the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival title The End We Start From starring Jodie Comer and Benedict Cumberbatch; Mothers’ Instinct starring Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway; the action thriller Canary Black, starring Kate Beckinsale and Rupert Friend; and Jamie Child's thriller Jackdaw, starring Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jenna Coleman.