The True Don Quixote, starring Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, O Brother Where Art Thou?), Jacob Batalon (Spiderman: Far From Home, Avengers: Infinity War) and Ann Mahoney (Logan Lucky, The Walking Dead) will make its New York City premiere with a special screening on Sat., Sept. 28 at the Metrograph Theater.
The True Don Quixote, written and directed by Chris Poché, premiered last fall at the 29th Annual New Orleans Film Festival, where it won an Audience Choice Award for Best Feature. CEO & Chairman Rick French of French/West/Vaughan (FWV), one of the nation’s largest independently-owned public relations, advertising and digital marketing agencies, is Executive Producer.
Filmed primarily in St. Bernard Parish just outside New Orleans, The True Don Quixote is a modern comedic take on the timeless story by Miguel de Cervantes. Though the book is the most published work of fiction in history and over 400 years old, the NOFF premiere marked the first time that a feature version of the Cervantes classic has ever hit the big screen in North America.
Nelson, the multi-talented actor, writer and director, is confirmed to attend the New York screening, scheduled for 7 p.m. ET with a Q&A to follow. Well-loved by audiences and critics, Nelson’s singular talents were on display earlier this year with his buzz-worthy turn as the title character in the anthology western from Joel and Ethan Coen, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. He is currently featured in the thriller Angel Has Fallen alongside Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman and in the the upcoming thriller The Report due out in November.
“We are excited and honored to have Tim join us for the first screening in New York,” said Poché (Flakes, Over The Hedge). “You’ll see his brilliance on full display here. He’s made over 50 films, but remains a startlingly original and gifted actor.”
In The True Don Quixote, Nelson plays Danny Kehoe (Don Quixote), a deluded man who, believing he is a 14th century knight, embarks on a quest to restore chivalry to the world. Batalon brings his trademark charm to the role of Kehoe’s faithful squire Sancho, and Mahoney appears as the knight’s bewildered niece.
“When I read Chris Poché’s script, there was never a question as to whether I would do his film,” said Nelson. “His adaptation is smart, funny, tender and wise, and the transposition to southern Louisiana is as perfectly cohesive as it is surprising.”
Trey Burvant and Beth Burvant (Long Distance, American Reject) together with Jason Waggenspack (The Lookalike, Maggie) produce through their Charterhouse Films and Neutral Ground Films, respectively. Executive producers include Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run, Spiderwick Chronicles), FWV’s Rick French (The Fox Hunter, Clear Lake), Sal Scaccia, Josh Mayer, Susan Brennan and Sidney D. Torres III.
Immediately following the New York sneak peek the film will be made available to 1,400 theatres in North America via the EclairPlay digital distribution platform. Beginning Oct. 1, Giant Pictures is making the film accessible to movie lovers on digital, DVD and on-demand platforms, including Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, Redbox (TVOD), DirecTV, InDemand and others.
The True Don Quixote is represented by UTA. Nelson is represented by UTA and Gateway Management, and Batalon by Paradigm.
