Press Your Luck - Variety
By Alex Ritman | May 9, 2024
Paul Walter Hauser has added another project to a packed upcoming slate.
The Emmy and Golden Globe winner, who in the last few weeks alone has been tapped to play Chris Farley in Josh Gad’s biopic and has joined the cast of both “Fantastic Four” and the “Naked Gun” reboot, is to lead “Press Your Luck,” a drama-thriller based on the true story of Michael Larson. Protagonist Pictures has unveiled the drama-thriller — from Plenty Good in co-production with Fabula — alongside a first look image and will handle international sales, while CAA Media Finance represents North American rights.
Set in 1984, “Press Your Luck” follows Larson, an unemployed truck driver from Ohio who stepped onto the game show “Press Your Luck” harbouring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.
The ensemble cast also includes Walton Goggins (“Fallout”), David Strathairn (“Nomadland”), Emmy-nominated Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”), Haley Bennett (“Swallow”), Shamier Anderson (“John Wick: Chapter 4”), David Rysdahl (“Fargo”), Johnny Knoxville (“Jackass”), Brian Geraghty (“The Hurt Locker”), Patti Harrison (“Theater Camp”), Shaunette Renée Wilson (“Indiana Jones”), Lilli Kay (“Your Honor,” “Yellowstone”), James Wolk (“Mad Men,” “Watchmen”), Damian Young (“Ozark”) and Ricky Russert (“I, Tonya”).
Samir Oliveros directs from a screenplay co-written with Maggie Briggs (“Joyland”), and the film is produced by Plenty Good (“Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint”), and co-produced by Fabula (“El Conde”). “Press Your Luck” is now in post-production.
“I kept having this recurring dream with a white-bearded man. I couldn’t make any sense of it until I stumbled upon his face on a VHS tape I found at a thrift shop. That’s how I learned of Michael’s story,” said Oliveros. “During our next encounter he said if we made the film in time for the 40th anniversary of his feat, he would guide us in the right direction. I’m glad we could make it happen with the support of such incredible partners.”
“Press Your Luck” is produced by Amanda Freedman, and executive produced by Andrew Hevia, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Paul Walter Hauser, Juan Pablo Solano, Simon Beltran, Sara McFarlane, Damiano Tucci, Tiziano Tucci, Sophia Banks, Arun Thapar, Divya Shahani, and Roger Lolly. Constanza Muñoz co-produced.
“Samir has crafted a unique and stylish telling of the incredible true story of a down on his luck everyman gaming the system,” said Protagonist Pictures’ CEO, Dave Bishop. “We couldn’t be happier to be working with the very talented Samir and our friends at Fabula and Plenty Good.”
Added Freedman, founding partner of Plenty Good: “We’re drawn to films that don’t behave. Whether it’s an unruly character, an unconventional structure, or irreverent style, our movies challenge what’s expected. Michael’s bold behavior inspired us, and we hope it inspires you.”
Hauser is repped by CAA, Artists First, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham LLP.; Goggins is repped by CAA, and Darris Hatch Management; Strathairn is repped by CAA and Ryan Entertainment; Williams is repped by WME, Ocean Avenue, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein; Bennet is repped by WME, and Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver Thompson; and Knoxville is repped by CAA, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.