Transmission Films has announced that FING!, a live-action family adventure starring Academy Award® winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Time Bandits) and Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Crimson Peak, Jane Eyre), will arrive in Australian cinemas on January 14. The release will coincide with a major theatrical rollout in the United States through Angel Studios.
The film features an impressive international cast, including Richard Roxburgh (Elvis, Prosper), Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners, World on Fire, I Hate Suzie Too), alongside newcomer Iona Bell, who appears in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
Directed by Australian filmmaker Jeffrey Walker, known for Apple Cider Vinegar, The Portable Door and Modern Family, FING! is based on the original book by three-time BAFTA Award winner David Walliams. The screenplay is written by Emmy Award winner Kevin Cecil (Veep, Gnomeo & Juliet) and Walliams.
Andrew Mackie, Managing Director of Transmission Films, said the company was excited to bring the film to Australian audiences during the summer holiday season.
“We’re thrilled to bring FING! to Australian audiences day-and-date with the US for the summer holidays. Jeffrey Walker has made a joyous family crowd-pleaser that kids and parents will love equally, and one that’s destined to become a classic,” Mackie said.
FING! made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it received a standing ovation. The film subsequently secured a major US theatrical distribution deal with Angel Studios, paving the way for its simultaneous release in both markets.
A Wild Adventure About Wishes, Friendship and Unexpected Consequences
The story follows Myrtle Meek, a demanding young girl whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Meek, indulge her every whim. For her twelfth birthday, Myrtle sets her sights on an unusual creature known as a Fing.
The problem? Nobody seems to know exactly what a Fing is.
Determined to fulfil his daughter’s extraordinary wish, Christopher Meek embarks on a dangerous quest to track down the mysterious beast. However, he is not the only one searching for the rare creature. The eccentric Viscount is also determined to capture a Fing for his wildlife park.
When Myrtle finally gets her wish, the creature proves to be far more destructive than anyone anticipated. Despite its chaotic nature, the Fing develops an unlikely bond with Myrtle. But as others attempt to take the creature away, she begins to discover that getting everything she wants may come with unexpected consequences.
Blending family comedy, adventure and heart, FING! explores the value of friendship, the consequences of unchecked desires and the importance of appreciating what truly matters.
Australian and UK Production Brings Together International Talent
FING! is an official Australian-UK co-production led by Jo Sargent of London-based King Bert Productions and Todd Fellman of Brisbane-based Story Bridge Films. The production was developed in association with Elevate Production Finance and AGC Studios, which is overseeing worldwide sales and distribution.
The film was produced in association with Stan Originals and Sky Originals, with Transmission Films handling theatrical distribution across Australia and New Zealand.
Executive producers include Shana Levine; Andrew Orr for Sky; Cailah Scobie and Alicia Brown for Stan; Craig McMahon for Elevate Production Finance; and Stuart Ford, Miguel Palos and Aghi Koh for AGC Studios.
With its acclaimed creative team, international cast and imaginative story, FING! is set to bring a lively family adventure to Australian cinemas on January 14, arriving alongside its US theatrical release.
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