KATEE SACKHOFF TO STAR IN SCI-FI MYSTERY THRILLER “ORIGIN UNKNOWN”

Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull Directing the Film for Parkgate Entertainment, Coffee & Cigarettes and Content Media

 

Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Riddick, Oculus, Don’t Knnock Twice) will play the lead role of Mackenzie ‘Mack’ Wilson in the sci-fi thriller Origin Unknown, and that Content Media has come on board to handle worldwide sales.

 

UK-based Coffee & Cigarettes who act as executive producers on the film brokered the deal with Content Media to represent the film.

 

Eduardo Panizzo of Coffee & Cigarettes said, “We are delighted to be working with Content Media on this project, they have an exceptional track record and a proven history of success in the Sci-Fi genre.”

 

Content’s Jamie Carmichael said, “We love the elevated Sci-Fi space, and Origin Unknown has all the elements to succeed – a strong high concept idea, a great cast, a great creative team and a very impressive new directing talent in HaZ.  We’re really excited to bring this to the market.”

 

Origin Unknown is being directed by Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dullul (Project Kronos, Sync) an award nominated visual effects artist (Hell Boy II, The Dark Knight) who recently signed on to direct the much-anticipated Robin Hood reboot, Robin Hood 2058, produced by Atlas Entertainment (Suicide Squad, Batman vs Superman, Warcraft) and Gianni Nunnari (Immortals, 300). While simultaneously directing music videos and commercials, HaZ transitioned into scripted fare with his Sci-fi short film Project Kronos, which became an Internet hit on YouTube and Vimeo.

 

The screenplay for Origin Unknown is written by Gary Hall based on a story by Dulull. The director of photography is Adam Sculthorp (aerial unit on ‘Prometheus’, ‘Spectre”). The VFX will be handled by Territory Studio (‘The Martian’, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, Blade Runner 2,), Paddy Eason is the VFX Supervisor (’28 Weeks Later’, ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’) and Michael Stevens (‘Million Dollar Baby’, ‘Invictus’, Gran Torino) will compose.

 

After the first manned mission to Mars ends in a deadly crash, mission controller Mackenzie ‘Mack’ Wilson (Sackhoff) is summoned to assist an artificial intelligence system – A.R.T.I Their investigation uncovers a mysterious object under the surface of Mars, leading to a discovery that could change the future of our planet as we know it.

 

Principal photography begins later this month in London, UK.

 

Origin Unknown is being financed by Head Gear Films and Parkgate Entertainment; Phil Hunt and Compton Ross of Head Gear Films are Executive Producers on the project.

 

Anis Shlewet from Parkgate Entertainment said: “We are really excited about working with HaZ on ‘Origin Unknown’, he is a major filmmaking talent, as proven by his short films, which demonstrate his style of grounded, visceral and intelligent Sci-Fi storytelling. We are equally excited to be partnering with Coffee & Cigarettes, who are managing the film’s marketing and publicity”.

 

Origin Unknown marks a partnership between Parkgate Entertainment (a Production Company) and Coffee & Cigarettes (a Producer’s Representative and Distribution Consultancy). Tom Clark and Eduardo Panizzo are representing the film and Executive Producing.

 

Katee Sackhoff is represented by UTA and management firm Bleu, an Entertainment Company.

 

Hasraf Dulull is represented by Scott Glassgold of Ground Control L.A, Scott also has an Executive Producer credit on the project.

 

In addition to “Origin Unknown,” Content’s impressive international sales slate includes the Sundance documentaries CRIES FROM SYRIA directed by Academy® Award nominated Evgeny Afinevsky and Greg Barker’s LEGION OF BROTHERS; the comedy AN ACTOR PREPARES starring Jeremy Irons and Jack Huston; the documentary BESIDE BOWIE: THE MICK RONSON STORY, directed by Jon Brewer; Dan Bush’s supernatural thriller heist THE VAULT, starring James Franco, Francesca Eastwood, Taryn Manning and Scott Haze; action-thriller THE WORKER, starring Michael Peña, directed by action director Dan Bradley and produced alongside Jeremy Renner’s company The Combine; a documentary feature about the inspiring, Olympic hero turned convicted murder Oscar Pistorius (PISTORIUS); the Manolo Blahnik documentary MANOLO: THE BOY WHO MADE SHOES FOR LIZARDS; the Maria Callas biopic CALLAS & ONASSIS, starring Noomi Rapace with Niki Caro directing; and Sci-Fi epic feature HIGHER POWER.

 

About Coffee & Cigarettes

 

Coffee & Cigarettes are an award-winning UK based producer’s representative, brokering deals directly with UK and US distribution companies as well as international sales agents. They also act as a film specialist Creative Agency and Distribution Consultancy offering a range of services to Producers/Production Companies, Sales Agents and Distributors.

 

About Parkgate Entertainment

 

Parkgate Entertainment is a British film company based in London, specializing in the production of genre films.

 

About Content Media Corporation

 

Content Media Corporation is a global entertainment media company based in London with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto, which owns and distributes a significant library of film, television and digital assets. Content Media Corporation’s catalogue contains in excess of 275 theatrical feature titles plus library rights to more than 5,400 hours of TV programming incorporating major drama series, non-fiction entertainment, special event programming, kids’ series, TV movies and mini-series. The company also owns significant stakes in Collins Avenue, an LA based entertainment TV production company, Spirit digital media, a digital production company, and film and television production companies Jigsaw Productions, Campfire and Aito Media Group.

 

About Head Gear Films

 

Head Gear Films is one of the most prolific providers of production services and debt finance to independent media projects. A responsive and flexible partner, Head Gear often works with unusual situations and develops bespoke solutions to unique requirements. Based in the UK, Head Gear operates internationally, and has developed expertise in lending against international production incentives and rebates.

Over the past three years, Head Gear has been involved in financing over 150 feature films, video games and television projects, including Black Mass, Trespass Against Us, War on Everyone, Freeheld and Where Hands Touch.