Poppoli Pictures

A new science-fiction story is on the horizon and this one hails all the way from the Nordic nation of Iceland. Olaf de Fleur Johannesson, who has become well known in his home country for his action thriller Borgríki (known here in the U.S. as City State) has sold a pitch to Summit Entertainment for a new sci-fi action movie called Revoc. 

The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news about the acquisition, but just about all details about the plot are being kept under wraps at this time. The only thing that’s known about the story is that it is in the same vein as Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 and Duncan Jones’ Moon and is “a post-alien invasion.” Given those comparisons it sounds as though the movie is going to be a lower-budget affair and be a bit more character based than standard blockbusters. David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Manderville Films will be producing the project, making it the second time that they have paired up with Summit. Their first collaboration, the zomromcom Warm Bodies, will be in theaters early next year. 

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The writing duo behind 2001′s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider feature has been tapped to remake the Icelandic thriller, City State for New Regency.  Patrick Massett and John Zinman will pen the new version of Olaf de Fleur Johannesson’s 2011 feature.  We previously reported that directorJames Mangold (Walk the Line) would be moving onto City State after wrapping on The Wolverine.The story of City State follows four characters caught in the cross-hairs of a drug syndicate and juggles “a crooked police captain in love with a prostitute, an aging crime boss with a heart condition looking to get out of the game alive, a mechanic determined to avenge the death of his unborn child, and a female cop who is attacked by thugs and takes matters into her own hands.”  Hit the jump for more on City State.

Variety reports that Massett and Zinman will relocate the Icelandic original to a Stateside setting.  The duo, who previously worked together on the television series Friday Night Lights, Caprica and The Finder, also recently submitted a 2010 Black List script, Gold, concerning securities exchange fraud in the U.S. Michael Mann and Paul Haggis are teamed up to direct and produce that project, respectively.  

EOne has acquired U.K. and Canada rights to Olaf de Fleur’s “City State,” a crime thriller that has been snapped up for international distribution by Hengameh Panahi’s Gallic sales-production house Celluloid Dreams.

Panahi is also bringing “City State” sequel “Brave Men’s Blood” to the Cannes Market.

The eOne buy, Celluloid Dreams’ double pickup and other early reactions to “City State” — including negotiations for a U.S. remake with a view to James Mangold (“Knight and Day”) directing — mark Iceland’s de Fleur (“The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela”) as a talent to track.

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The City State trailer is now available with subtitles in these languages 

| French | German | Spanish | Japanese |

Nominations for the Edda, the Icelandic Film Awards, were announced this past weekend and Poppoli Pictures is proud to have received 13 nominations for the features City State and Polite People that both saw theatrical releases in Iceland in 2011. CITY STATE received 9 nominations including best picture, best director; Olaf de Fleur and best actor; Sigurður Sigurjónsson. Furthermore, Polite People received 4 nominations including best script and Eggert Þorleifsson received best supporting actor nomination for his outstanding performance as Markell the mayor. We at Poppoli Pictures are thrilled and honored and wish to express out deepest gratitute to all our crew and cast and everyone who helped us make these films become a reality, especially The Icelandic Film Centre and Myndform, our national distributor. The Edda Film Awards will be held on February 18^th and will be broadcasted live throughout the country. For a full list of nominations for both films please see below.

City State:

- BEST PICTURE -

Best Director: Olaf De Fleur

Best Actor: Sigurður Sigurjónsson

Cinamatography: Bjarni Felix Bjarnason & Gunnar Heidar

Editing: Olaf de Fleur & Sigurður Eyþórsson

Sound: Gunnar Arnason

Production Design: Heimir Sverrisson

Costume Design: Ellen Loftsdottir

Make Up: Elín Reynisdóttir & Eygló Ólöf Birgisdóttir

Polite People:

Best Script: Olaf De Fleur Johannesson & Hrafnkell Stefánsson

Best Supporting Actress: Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir & Margrét Ákadóttir

Best Supporting Actor: Eggert Þorleifsson

By Thorarinn Thorarinsson

★★★★

City State; A hardboiled crime thriller.

Let’s get straight to the point. Olaf De Fleur’s CityState is an incredibly cool hardboiled crime thriller which raises the bar for the Icelandic crime thriller genre. The actors were fantastic, the cinematography was slick, and the film has an intoxicatingly cool style and feel about it.

It doesn’t hurt that the film realistically depicts Iceland’s underworld, with of course minor embellishes to build suspense. Even though the violence in the film is very rough, it’s very tastefully handled and shouldn’t drive anyone away. The fights scenes are beautifully choreographed by Mjölnir MMA fight-club.

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Twitch writer Swarez last year got involved in making a short movie which he co-wrote and directed with the help of friends including Icelandic filmmaker Olaf De Fleur. After much encouragement UNDYING LOVE was shot in 2010 and is currently in post production for release very shortly creating a little zombie epic, its only 30 seconds long no dialect, some sound but very powerful stuff,check it out….

Watch the Undying Love Trailer

Olaf de Fleur, the Icelandic director of the multi-awarded The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela (nominated for a Nordic Council Film Prize in 2009) has three films scheduled for release in 2011, including the comedy drama Polite People opening this Friday. The writer/director/producer spoke to us.

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