Cassian Elwes and Armory Films partners Chris Lemole and Tim Zajaros, are launching Zeal Media Co., an indie film company aiming with a goal of financing and/or producing up to eight films per year. The company will focus on sophisticated, thought-provoking and talent-driven material to stand in the marketplace. The first film to come through the new company will be Billionaire Boys Club, currently in post. The film, based on the true story of young white collar criminal-turned-murderer Joe Hunt, recently wrapped production and was directed by James Cox. It stars Kevin Spacey, Ansel Elgort, Taron Edgerton, Emma Roberts, Jeremy Irvine and Bokeem Woodbine. Good Universe has come on-board to handle sales at Berlin.
“It has been my privilege to get to know Chris and Tim. They are the kind of partners one always hopes to find and I look forward to making lots of movies with them,” said Elwes.
“This is a logical development for our rapidly growing film finance and production operation. The partnership base will allow us to have more day-to-day contact with agencies, talent and distributors. The addition of development resources will also act as an invaluable search engine for projects we can board as a financier, an area of our business we’re very intent on growing,” said Lemole. “Our alliance will also re-position us as a one stop shop for film finance and production.”
Previously, Armory and Elwes worked together on the reboot of Eli Roth’s Cabin Fever, which will be released in the spring by IFC Midnight. Travis Zariwny directed that, with Gage Golightly and Matthew Daddario in the cast.
Zeal will be another string in Elwes’ already well-dressed bow. The prolific indie film producer and the former co-head of William Morris Independent joined with Pelican Point Group Partners media arm Pelican Point Media in April last year to form Golden Gate Media, a company aiming to produce and finance pics in the $2 million-$15 million budget range. That plan is to produce 2-5 films a year. In the five-year period since leaving William Morris, Elwes has been involved in bringing 40 movies to the screen.
Must Read Stories
Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.