Dev Patel is further cementing his status as a triple threat in filmmaking by taking on the mantle of writer, director, and lead actor in "The Peasant," an extraordinary period action thriller jointly produced by Fifth Season and Thunder Road Pictures. Through his Minor Realm production company, Patel will also serve as a producer on this venture.
This project marks Patel's return to Thunder Road, which previously backed "Monkey Man," his directorial debut feature where he also co-wrote and starred. "The Peasant" promises to be an exhilarating revenge thriller, drawing comparisons to "Braveheart" and "John Wick," while also evoking the legend of King Arthur, blending medieval knights with the feudal landscape of India.
Set against the backdrop of the 1300s, the narrative revolves around a humble shepherd who, fueled by rage, embarks on a relentless quest for justice against a band of marauding mercenary knights who ravaged his community, unveiling a depth and prowess far greater than anyone anticipated.
Fifth Season, which is both financing and producing the film, initially collaborated with Will Dunn, a screenwriter for Marvel Studios' "Ms. Marvel," to develop the project. It garnered significant buzz and even made it onto the prestigious 2023 Black List, a yearly compilation of the most sought-after unproduced screenplays.
Under Patel's visionary direction, the film's setting has been transformed from its original Italian backdrop with a pope-centric subplot to a vividly colorful and almost mystical India. Patel and Dunn are collaboratively honing the new drafts, with the creative team and producers harboring ambitions for "The Peasant" to spearhead a franchise.
Thunder Road, with a proven track record in crafting successful revenge and action franchises like the "John Wick" series, is well-versed in this genre. The company's credits also include the gritty "Sicario" films and the upcoming action thriller "Fight or Flight," starring Josh Hartnett, set for theatrical release in May.
Fifth Season's film division, led by Christopher Slager, is involved in developing, producing, financing, and distributing a diverse array of films, ranging from comedies such as "80 for Brady" and "The Book Club" to action movies like Michael Bay's "Ambulance" and David Ayer's "A Working Man," as well as critically acclaimed titles like "Flora & Son" and Maggie Gyllenhaal's "The Lost Daughter." Next on their slate is the comedy "Friendship," starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson, set to be released by A24 on May 9.
Patel's directorial debut, "Monkey Man," another revenge action thriller set in contemporary India, narrated the tale of a man infiltrating a nightclub to seek vengeance against his mother's killer from years past. Distributed by Universal last year, it marked Patel's foray into directing.
Patel, who was last seen in the British drama "Rabbit Trap," is represented by CAA, Curtis Brown, and Sol22. Dunn is represented by Verve and Think Tank.
