Walden Media’s Gerard Butler surfing drama Of Men and Mavericks has landed a studio — Fox 2000 — while Elisabeth Shue and Abigail Spencer are joining the cast.
Fox 2000 will co-finance and distribute Of Men and Mavericks domestically. Curtis Hanson is scheduled to start shooting later this month in Northern California.
Of Men and Mavericks follows a chapter in the real-life story of young Northern Californian Jay Moriarty, a world champion surfer and adventurer who made his reputation surfing Marvericks north of Half Moon Bay before dying in a diving accident at age 22.
Gerard plays local surfing legend Frosty Hesson, who mentored and trained the young Moriarty, played by Jonny Weston. Kario Salem and Brandon Hooper penned the script.
Spencer will play the role of Frosty’s wife, while Shue will play Moriarty’s mother.
Hanson is producing the pic with Hooper, Jim Meenaghan and Mark Johnson, while Butler will executive produce with his manager Alan Siegel.
Of Men and Mavericks will detail how Moriarty’s persistence, discipline and potential transform Frosty from a reluctant mentor into a father figure. As their bond strengthens, Moriarty learns to push his limits.
Spencer will be seen in Sam Raimi’s upcoming Oz, the Great and Powerful; This Means War; and The Haunting in Georgia. She’s represented by ICM, Untitlted Entertainment and Gretchen Rush, Hansen, Jacobson.
Shue will next be seen opposite Jennifer Lawrence in Relativity’s horror pic House at the End of the Street, which opens April 20, and in Janie Jones opposite Alessandro Niovla. She’s represented by CAA.