Lily James-led period piece “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” and Augustine Frizzell’s coming-of-age pic “Never Goin’ Back” have both found homes. “Guernsey” will be released via Netflix in the U.S. and Canada, as well as Latin America, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia later this year. A24 acquired the worldwide rights to “Never Goin’ Back” ahead of its SXSW premiere this past weekend.
“Guernsey Literary” sees James playing a frustrated journalist whose life changes when she learns about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The book club was founded during World War II in resistance to the Nazis.
Directed by Mike Newell (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”), the film is based on Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer’s best-selling novel of the same name. Jessica Brown Findlay (“Harlots”) co-stars.
Per Deadline, the film will hit theaters in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand in April. It will open in France in June, and Germany in August.
A24 plans to release “Never Goin’ Back” sometime in 2018, Variety writes. Frizzell’s feature directorial debut made its world premiere at Sundance in January and is currently screening at SXSW. The pic follows best friends (Maia Mitchell and Camila Morrone) as they try to raise some money for a vacation from their waitressing jobs.
“Frizzell has made a wondrous, winning, and enormously impressive directorial debut,” A24 said in a statement. “It’s an infectiously fun and uniquely modern look at two scrappy young women pursuing a dream, and more broadly a touching and relatable ode to the bonds of female friendship. We’re so thrilled to be working with Augustine and our good friends at Sailor Bear [‘Never Goin’ Back’s’ production company] to bring this movie to audiences around the world.”
“I am beyond thrilled to partner with A24 on the release of ‘Never Goin’ Back,’” commented Frizzell, who also penned the film. “They’re my dream company and consistently put out my favorite films every year — and with the coolest marketing campaigns!”
When we asked Frizzell what she hopes audiences take away from “Never Goin’ Back” she said, “On a surface level, I hope they see two female friends working together toward a common goal without the usual fabricated drama that comes with stories about teen girls. The deeper messages speak about making mistakes even when you have good intentions, wanting more out of life, and friendship as family when your blood relatives aren’t the healthiest choice,” she explained.
Frizzell previously wrote and directed shorts “Clean,” “I Was A Teenage Girl,” and “Minor Setback.”
