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Monday, April 18, 2016

"BLACK BUTTERFLY" Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Rhys Meyers to Star in Psychological Thriller



ANTONIO BANDERAS AND JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS TO STAR IN PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER “BLACK BUTTERFLY”; BRIAN GOODMAN TO DIRECT

Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Group is Financing and Producing the Film with Silvio Muraglia’s Paradox Studios and Marc Frydman


Los Angeles, CA - April 14, 2016 – It was revealed today that Antonio Banderas (“Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” “The Expendables 3”) and Golden Globe® winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“Mission: Impossible III” “The Tudors”) will star opposite one another in the psychological thriller “Black Butterfly,” directed by Brian Goodman (“What Doesn’t Kill You”).

Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Group and Silvio Muraglia’s Paradox Studios are financing and producing “Black Butterfly.” Mikael Wiren and Alexandra Klim are Executive Producing. Producer Marc Frydman is also producing.

The movie is based on the French film “Papillon Noir” written by Hervé Korian. Justin Stanley (“Stigmata”) and Steve Hilts are adapting a new screenplay for the film.

In this taut psychological thriller, Paul (Banderas), a down on his luck screenwriter, picks up a drifter (Rhys Meyers) and offers him a place to stay. However, when the deranged stranger takes Paul hostage and forces him to write, their unhinged relationship brings buried secrets to light.

AMBI Distribution, the worldwide sales arm of the AMBI Group, is handling global sales and will be introducing the project to buyers in Cannes.

Principal photography is slated to begin next month in Italy.

Said Andrea Iervolino, “This is a film where emotions cascade as the story unfolds with twists and turns that create unrelenting drama and thrills. To pull it off, you need an actor with real gravitas and proven connectivity with audiences so we feel fortunate to have Antonio step into this incredible role and do what he does best – own a role and deliver amazing performances.”

Monika Bacardi added, “We are thrilled to be producing a film with such amazing talent on both sides of the camera. Antonio is a powerful force on screen and has a role here that will tap into his amazing versatility as an actor. On the other side of the camera, we couldn’t be happier to put this film in the hands of Brian, whose vision and passion for this project is tremendously inspiring.”

Silvio Muraglia commented, “Black Butterfly’ is a roller coaster ride of suspense, twists and turns that relies on superb writing, sophisticated acting and character work. Antonio Banderas intensity and versatility and Jonathan Rhys Meyers depth and range are the key to bring this film to life.”

Antonio Banderas is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency, Management firm Media Art Management, and law firm Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

Brian Goodman is represented by APA.

About AMBI

AMBI Group is a consortium of vertically integrated film development, production, finance and distribution companies wholly owned and operated by Andrea Iervolino and Monika Gomez del Campo Bacardi, Lady of Bayfield Hall, better known as “Monika Bacardi.”

AMBI has quickly emerged as one of the industry’s most prolific financing, production and sales companies with the capacity to develop, package, finance, produce and sell a broad array of films for worldwide distribution. Among the films on AMBI’s burgeoning film slate are a remake of Christopher Nolan’s iconic film “Memento”;  “Lamborghini – The Legend,” a biopic on Lamborghini founder Ferruccio Lamborghini to be written by Bobby Moresco; the faith based children’s film “Beyond the Sun,” featuring His Holiness Pope Francis; “Septembers of Shiraz,” starring  Salma Hayek and Adrien Brody; the contemporary fairy tale “This Beautiful Fantastic” starring Jessica Brown Findlay and Tom Wilkinson; a documentary feature about Federico Fellini titled “The Man of La Dolce Vita;” James Franco’s “In Dubious Battle,” featuring an ensemble cast that includes Franco, Nat Wolff, Selena Gomez, Vincent D’Onofrio, Robert Duvall, Ed Harris, Bryan Cranston, Josh Hutcherson, Zach Braff and Sam Shepherd; the 3D CGI family animated film “Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad,” featuring the  voices of Jamie Foxx, John Cleese, Alec Baldwin, James Franco, Angelica Huston and Heidi Klum; the sci-fi thriller “Rupture” starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Chiklis and Peter Stormare; the psychological thriller “Lavender” starring Abbie Cornish and Dermot Mulroney; the romantic comedy “All Roads Lead to Rome,” starring Sarah Jessica Parker;  Barry Levinson’s acclaimed drama “The Humbling,” starring Al Pacino; and the sci-fi action thriller “Andron: The Black Labyrinth,” starring Alec Baldwin and Danny Glover, among several others.

In 2015, AMBI acquired the Exclusive Media Group film library, which includes an incredibly diverse portfolio of critical hits, commercial blockbusters and cult favorites such as “Begin Again,” “Cruel Intentions,” “Donnie Darko,” “End of Watch,” “Ides of March,” “Hit & Run,” “Memento,” “The Mexican,” “Parkland,” “Rush,” “Sliding Doors,” “Snitch,” “Undefeated” and “The Way Back,” to name a few.  In addition to the library titles, AMBI now has the rights to a number of titles within EMG’s active movie development slate, as well as all sequel and remake rights to the popular EMG films.

Andrea Iervolino has produced, funded and distributed over 50 feature films including “The Merchant of Venice” and “The Humbling.” He is considered one of the youngest and most accomplished entrepreneurs in the Italian film industry and was the recipient of the coveted Mimmo Rotella Award for his contributions to the Italian cinema industry - presented to him at the 2014 Venice Film Festival, alongside fellow recipients Al Pacino and Barry Levinson. Iervolino most recently received the Honor of Recognition as Ambassador of Italian Cinema in the World at annual Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF).

Lady Monika Bacardi is the widow of Luis Adalberto Facundo Gomez del Campo Bacardi, Lord of Bayfield Hall, known as Lord Luis Bacardi (descendent of the Bacardi founder, still a family-run company). Renowned for her passion of modern art and love of photography and movies, Monika Bacardi is a highly successful businesswoman who is now committed to producing films, through AMBI, on top of her numerous philanthropic activities.

For more information on AMBI please visit http://www.ambipictures.com/en/

About Paradox

Paradox Studios, Inc. is a boutique production company that specializes in independent film financing and International co-productions. Their most recent project All Roads Lead to Rome is currently in post-production and starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Raoul Bova, and Paz Vega and was shot in Rome in 2014. Studios produced and financed Reclaim, starring John Cusack, Jacki Weaver, and Ryan Phillippe was released on September 19, 2014 by Lionsgate as well as Ain't Them Bodies Saints, staring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck, which was acquired by IFC Films at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013.   Also produced and financed by Paradox is the Samuel L. Jackson and Dominic Cooper thriller Reasonable Doubt, released by Lionsgate on January 26, 2014.  Paradox has produced and financed over 10 films since 2008, including The Frozen Ground, Fire with Fire, and Setup.

Silvio Muraglia is a respected international producer and television executive who possesses extensive knowledge of both the European and the American entertainment industries and film markets, and has served as president of production at Paradox Studios since 2013.  He has produced over 20 films over the course of his career.

In addition to producing independent films, Paradox Entertainment owns the Robert E. Howard library (Conan the Barbarian, Kull of Atlantis, Dark Agnes) and produced the 2010 film Conan the Barbarian: 3D with Lionsgate and Millennium.  Paradox also boasts a strong licensing program surrounding the Robert E. Howard IP, including comic books, video games, toys, and collectable figurines. 



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