After revisiting the upper crust of London with hisThe Gentlemenspinoff series earlier this year,Guy Ritchieis already planning a return to British aristocracy.Varietyexclusively revealed that the director is prepping his next film, titledWife and Dog, which is expected to begin filming in October. Black Bear, the banner that collaborated with Ritchie on his latest filmThe Ministry of Ungentlemanly WarfareandSydney Sweeney’s recent horror hitImmaculate, will launch sales for the film at the upcomingCannes Film Festival.
Little is known about the film, other than that it will mark Ritchie’s return to a similar settingfull of back-stabbing and colorful charactersto that of the aforementioned Netflix series andhis 2019 film of the same name. Given his penchant for action-comedy and gangster flicks, it’ll likely have all the hallmarks of his sleek style of filmmaking. The cast list, similarly, is being kept under lock and key, though Variety notes that a bevy of big stars are circling the project. In addition to directing, Ritchie also penned the screenplay and produced alongside his mainstay production partnerIvan Atkinsonand Black Bear’sJohn Friedberg, who also helped onUngentlemanly Warfare.Teddy SchwarzmanandMichael Heimlerare also executive producing the film for Black Bear.
WithWife and Dog, Ritchie keeps busy amid an increasingly cramped 2024 schedule. Aside from releasingUngentlemanly WarfareandThe Gentlementostrong reviews earlier this year, he’s also working on the star-studdedFountain of Youth, which began shooting in Bangkok in February and featuresJohn KrasinskiandNatalie Portmanas its leads. First on the docket, however, isIn the Grey, which reunites the director withJake Gyllenhaal,Henry Cavill, andEiza Gonzálezfor a heist action movie set to release on January 17 next year. Much more work could be on the horizon for Ritchie if all goes well, as Lionsgate has expressed their hopes for the film to spawn a franchise.
‘Wife and Dog’ Is One of Several Big Projects Seeking a Home at Cannes
Wife and Dogis far from Black Bear’s only project going up for sale at Cannes starting this week.David Michôd’s boxing biopic starring SydneySweeneyas legendary fighterChristy Martinwill also be seeking a buyer, alongside theOlivia Wilde-ledI Want Your SexfromGregg ArakiandMahershala AliandTom Hardy’s77 BlackoutfromCary Joji Fukunaga. Beyond Black Bear’s reach, however, arguably the biggest project that will draw the eyes of distributors will beFrancis Ford Coppola’slong-gestating passion projectMegalopolisfeaturing an A-list ensemble led byAdam Driver. This looks to be a very packed market in 2024 with directors from Ritchie toDavid CronenbergandPanos Cosmatospackaging some of the most anticipated films of the next couple of years.
Stay tuned here at Collider for more onWife and Dogas it comes out. In the meantime, all episodes of Ritchie’s British aristocracy-set seriesThe Gentlemenare available to watch on Netflix.
The Gentlemen
Eddie Horniman, Duke of Halstead, inherits large estate from father, unaware it fronts Pearson’s drug empire. With no crime experience, he must take over the operation or lose the estate.
Watch on Netflix
