Deadline is reporting that Veep creator and Oscar nominee Armando Iannucci (In the Loop, The Death of Stalin, The Thick of It) is teaming up with producer Yann Zenou (Intouchables, The Death of Stalin) on Sumo, a coming-of-age comedy that takes place in the world of amateur Sumo wrestling.
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The film follows the story of Jonah, The film follows the story of Jonah, a silver-tongued and overweight kid with low self-esteem who meets Hana, a Japanese female janitor at his school – and an ex Sumo wrestler. Along with a pedantic and friendless building manager, the unlikely trio set about building a Dojo, and training for the US Sumo Open.
Suzy Nakamura (Avenue 5, Dr. Ken) will play Hana. Casting is underway for the remaining roles.
Natalie Bailey (Avenue 5, The Thick of It) is on board to direct. The screenplay was written by Richard Galazka. Iannucci will executive produce alongside award-winning producers Emily Leo and Oliver Roskill, in addition to Ado Yoshizaki Cassuto and Gianluca Chakra.
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Sumo is scheduled to begin shooting in Cape Town, South Africa in late spring.
(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for WarnerMedia)
