Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ producers Thomas Benski and Lucas Ochoa are to make a thriller based on the attempted assassination of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Pulse Films and Addictive Pictures have purchased the rights to Jonathan Lee’s historical novel ‘High Dive’ based on the 1984 IRA Brighton hotel bombing, which was a failed attempt to murder the Conservative leader and was the most audacious attack on a British government since the 1605 Gunpowder Plot led by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London.
Aside from producing Beyoncé’s 60-minute Lemonade video, Pulse Films was also behind indie box office hit ‘The Witch’ and Cannes competition entry ‘American Honey’.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ochoa – Pulse’s head of film and scripted TV – said: "Cinematic in scope, and utterly compelling from first to last; we are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Jonathan Lee’s novel to the big screen under the direction of the immensely-talented Brian Kirk. Both film and director showcase the vast ambition and daring vision that Pulse Films is committed to delivering with every project."
‘High Dive’ – published in 2015 – weaves fact and fiction to follow a young IRA volunteer as he plants a bomb in his hotel room in the British seaside town of Brighton, where Thatcher and her Conservative government were staying in late 1984 for their annual party conference.
Thatcher would narrowly escape injury from the real-life attack, although five others were killed, including two members of her party.
Director Kirk’s previous work includes ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Luther’ with Pulse producers Benski and Ochoa teaming up with John Schoenfelder and Russell Ackerman who are producing for Addictive.
Benski added: "We’re very interested in great literature, and ‘High Dive is a brilliant work of literature. It’s thrilling, it’s cinematic. It feels very much up our street. It’s a very interesting story and with that there’s what we think is the ability to attract talent … big talent that will make the movie easier to make. So for us it fits exactly on what we’re looking for."
It is hoped ‘High Dive’ will help its producers underline a growing push into scripted features after a decade cementing its name in music videos, feature and TV documentaries like Sundance hits ‘Shut Up and Play The Hits’ and ‘20,000 Days on Earth’.
Lemonade producers to make Thatcher assassination film
