The Weinstein Company announced today that the English-language remake of the critically-acclaimed and box office hit The Intouchables is now officially titled The Upside. The film was announced as part of Toronto International Film Festival’s 2017 program and will have its World Premiere in September in the Gala Presentations. Starring Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart, the feature will open nationwide March 9, 2018.
“The film is about two people giving life a second chance and learning to connect through small acts of respect and compassion,” director Neil Burger said. “We’re all very proud of the movie and especially the performances of these two brilliant actors who have amazing chemistry together. The whole team behind the film is incredibly eager for audiences to experience this very funny, heart-felt story.”
Based on a true story, the film chronicles the unexpected friendship between Phillip Lacasse (Cranston), a Park Avenue billionaire left paralyzed after a hang-gliding accident, and convicted felon Dell (Hart), recently released from prison and in need of a job and a fresh start. From worlds apart, Phillip and Dell form an unlikely bond, bridging heir differences and gaining invaluable wisdom in the process, giving each man a renewed sense of passion for all of life’s possibilities.
Nicole Kidman (Lion, The Beguiled) also stars along with Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) and Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder). Jason Blumenthal (Southpaw), Todd Black (Fences), and Harvey Weinstein produced the project that filmed in Philadelphia back in March.
Written by Jon Hartmere, the English-language remake reinvents the French classic, The Intouchables, that took the world by storm and went on to gross over $400 million worldwide – making it the second-highest grossing non-English language film of all time.
