Oscar nominee June Squibb (“Eleanor the Great,” “Thelma”), Linda Hamilton (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”), Jayne Eastwood (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) and Caroline Aaron (“Bookends,” “21 Jump Street”) are teaming up for”Hot Curlers,” a New Zealand sports comedy inspired by a true story.
Cornerstone Pictures has come on board to handle worldwide sales on the film, from David White (“This Town,” “Far North”) and co-written by White and Anna Taylor. The film will launch sales at the Toronto International Film Festival, ahead of production in New Zealand and Calgary in early 2027.
Inspired by an extraordinary true story, “Hot Curlers” follows four young curlers from tiny Naseby, New Zealand, who dare to chase an impossible dream: making it to the Winter Olympics. When the team travels to Calgary, Canada to train, their limited budget leaves them with one unlikely option — moving into a retirement home. Adopted by its mischievous residents, the young men find coaches, cheerleaders, and family, discovering that belonging matters more than winning. George Ferrier (“Juniper,” “The Hunting Wives”) also stars.
“Sometimes you find a true story so funny, so warm and so unbelievably human that you can’t believe it really happened,” said White. “I love how these two very different generations came into each other’s lives and genuinely changed one another. I can’t wait for audiences to meet them all and share in their remarkable journey. To have already cast icons like June Squibb, Linda Hamilton, Jayne Eastwood and Caroline Aaron, alongside a brilliant young actor like George Ferrier, bringing this hilarious story to life is honestly a dream.”
“Hot Curlers” is being produced by Kelly Martin for South Pacific Pictures (“This Town,” “Whale Rider”), and White, with the participation of Calgary-based SEVEN24 Films (“Brokeback Mountain”). The filmmakers are working with the New Zealand Film Commission as the project progresses toward production. Madman Entertainment has already secured distribution for Australia and New Zealand, while Mongrel Media has acquired the film for Canada.
“’Hot Curlers’ has all the ingredients audiences love in a great underdog story: humour, heart, an unlikely sporting dream and a wonderfully unexpected found family,” said Paul Wiegard, CEO of Madman. “It is distinctly New Zealand in character but universal in its appeal, and with this extraordinary cast, we believe it has the potential to connect with audiences of all ages.”
Added Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder, co-presidents of Cornerstone Films: “This is one of those rare true stories that makes you smile from the moment you hear it. David has crafted something with enormous heart and equally big audience appeal.”
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Cornerstone is also representing Mike Leigh’s “Tender Loving Care” which is screening as a Special Presentation, Theo Rhys’s “Stuffed” starring Jodie Comer and Harry Melling which has its world premiere as opening night of the Discovery section and Stephanie Ahn’s “Bedford Park” which has its international premiere in the Discovery section.
Squibb is represented by BRS/Gage Talent Agency, Hamilton and Aaron by Innovative Artists Entertainment, Eastwood by Premier Artists Management, Ferrier by Odd Management and Circle Management + Production, White is represented by Stacey Testro International and David Fox, Jennifer Grega at Myman Greenspan Fox.
From Variety US