Liam Neeson, John Cleese and Matthew Modine Set for ‘The Splendid Thing,’ Hyde Park Launching in Cannes

By Alex Ritman

Alex Ritman

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Matthew Modine is set to direct himself alongside Liam Neeson and John Cleese in upcoming feature “The Splendid Thing,” described as blending romantic comedy, drama and fantasy.

Hyde Park Intl. is launching the project at the Cannes market, with more stars currently in discussion to join.

“The Splendid Thing” will see Modine play Declan King, a celebrated novelist who has lost his focus and has been struggling to complete his latest novel since his wife left him. He’s sent by his exasperated literary agent on a book-signing tour to Europe, where it’s hoped he may find inspiration to write, but things soon take a surreal turn as characters from his previous books start coming to life all around him. Among them are Neeson as a Great Gatsby-esque type who puts Declan in the hospital after a punch-up and Cleese as a priest who also doubles as the Grim Reaper. But the surreal happenings are just the beginning as Declan comes to discover that literally nothing is what it seems.

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