Josh Finan, the rising British star best known for his recent TV work on shows such as “The Responder” (for which he was BAFTA TV nominated), “The Gentleman,” “Say Nothing” (playing Gerry Adams) and this year’s “Waiting for the Out,” has landed his first major film role.
The actor — most recently seen in Netflix comedy drama “How to Get to Heaven From Belfast” — will star alongside Sydney Sweeney and Leo Woodall in “Custom of the Country,” Variety has learned.
Being directed by Josie Rourke (“Mary Queen of Scots”) and with shooting now underway, the film is based on the Edith Wharton’s classic novel of the same name for Studiocanal and Charles Finch’s Rabbits Foot Films. Rourke wrote the screenplay having adapted the novel.
“Custom of the Country” sees Sweeney play Undine Spragg, a “fiercely ambitious woman from the Midwest, who strives for the social heights of turn of the century New York,” according to the logline. “Armed with beauty, daring/hustle and sheer force of will/unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.” Variety understands that Finan will play Spragg’s husband Ralph Marvell, a significant role in the film.
Producers on the film include Finch, Sweeney, Alison Owen of Monumental Pictures (reuniting with Studiocanal again after “Back to Black”) and Studiocanal. Executive vice president of global production Ron Halpern, U.S. chief creative officer, Shana Eddy-Grouf and vice president of development and productionn Isobel Carter are overseeing for Studiocanal.
“Custom of the Country” is being fully financed by Studiocanal will release theatrically across its territories (the U.K., France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Benelux). Worldwide sales on the feature were launched at the recently concluded European Film Market in Berlin.
Finan is repped by Insight Management & Production, Range and Public Eye.