Danny Dyer, a much loved figure on U.K. screens who recently made waves globally thanks to the Disney+ hit “Rivals,” is set to lead a new film.
In “Three Quick Breaths,” which has already begun shooting in Ireland, Dyer will play a soccer agent under pressure. Vertigo Releasing has acquired the feature for the U.K. and Ireland, while Sunrise Films will handle worldwide sales and take the film to the European Film Market in Berlin. A first look image has been unveiled by Vertigo.
“Three Quick Breaths” sees Dyer play Jimmy Banks — an old school agent who desperately needs to get his star player one last big payday before Jimmy’s life, and his client’s reputation, comes tumbling down. As per the description, the film is a “fast-paced, pressure cooker thriller” that “plunges into the seedy and exhilarating world of football agents who live for the big deals and will torch everything else down in pursuit of them.”
Brendan Muldowney (“Pilgrimage, “The Cellar”) is directing from an original script by Peter Howlett.
The film is produced by Paul Kennedy (“Nightride”) for Village Films, Richard Bolger (“Father, Mother, Sister, Brother”) for Hail Mary Pictures, and Patrick O’Neill (“Kneecap”) for Wildcard with support from Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen. The film is shooting in Ireland with post-production set to take place in Northern Ireland.
“Shooting ‘Three Quick Breaths’ in Ireland has been an incredible experience so far – even if most of my time is spent locked in Jimmy Banks’ office!,” said Dyer. “Jimmy’s a character who’s juggling chaos, but there’s so much depth to him — this is a very rare opportunity as an actor to be the only performer in a film. In a way I feel like it’s my ‘Hamlet.’ It’s a brilliant, clever piece and I’m very proud to be part of it.”
Rupert Preston and Ed Caffrey are executive producers on the film for Vertigo Releasing and Greg Martin is executive producer for Screen Ireland. Lenders are CFF2 and Three Point Capital.
“I am so excited to be working on Peter’s amazing script for ‘Three Quick Breaths,’” said Muldowney. “It is a funny, thrilling and surprisingly moving, adrenaline fuelled story, and James ‘Jimmy’ Banks is one of the best characters I’ve ever read in a script. One actor, one location thrillers are incredibly intense and I can’t wait to work with Danny on bringing ‘Jimmy Banks’ to life in all his glory.”
Added Preston and Caffrey of Vertigo Releasing and Nerger of Sunrise Films: “Danny Dyer is one of the finest actors of his generation and a genuine British icon who connects with a mass audience. Combined with the unique material and the directing talent of Brendan Muldowney, this is all set to be a game-changer. We’re thrilled to be on board for both UK distribution and world sales through Sunrise Films.”
Dyer is represented by Denee De Emmony of Independent Talent and Brendan Muldowney by Sarah Williams of Independent Talent.