AFM: Sir Ben Kingsley Is ‘The Common Man’

Santa Monica…..Myriad Pictures has signed with Asia Digital Entertainment to distribute the action thriller A Common Man starring Ben Kingsley and Ben Cross, which recently completed production in Sri Lanka. The film was adapted for the screen and directed by Chandran Rutnam (The Road From Elephant Pass).
In A Common Man, which is set in Colombo, Sri Lanka, a mysterious man (Kingsley) has planted 5 bombs in the politically-scarred city that are set to explode unless four major terrorists are immediately released from prison. When he calls in his demands to the Deputy Inspector General of the Colombo Police Department (Cross), it sets in motion an ideological and deadly confrontation between the truth and duty.
Myriad CEO Kirk D’Amico is selling the title at the American Film Market this week. “Early response to our sales promo has been terrific,” said D’Amico. “Ben Kingsley is a very big star internationally and the film has the right components buyers look for – a big star with a lot of action. We’re excited to be handling the film for Paul and his team.”
A Common Man was produced by Manohan Nanayakkara, B.S. Radha Krishnan and Chandran Rutnam. Executive producers are Paul Mason and Jon Sheinberg. A Common Man is a production of Asia Digital Entertainment which produced the feature film, The Road From Elephant Pass, a Finalist Award winner at the 2011 New York International Television and Film Awards.
The Academy Award-winning Kingsley’s (Gandhi) recent credits include Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island and Jerry Bruckheimer’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Other recent projects include Hugo, from director Martin Scorsese, with Sacha Baron Cohen and Chloe Grace Moretz, and The Dictator, which also stars Sacha Baron Cohen.
Ben Cross (Chariots of Fire) recently co-starred with John Cusack in the independent film War, Inc. and opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Ray Liotta in Hero Wanted. Other recent projects include Star Trek, directed by J.J. Abrams, and starring roles in the mini-series Ben Hur for the BBC, the mini-series Ice opposite Sam Neill and Lifetime’s William & Kate.
Kingsley is represented by CAA and ITG. Cross is represented by manager Jeff Goldberg. The deal with Myriad Pictures was arranged by Jon Sheinberg of The Movie Machine and Paul Mason.