Fans
of Harry Potter star Rupert Grint have been credited with securing
the release of his new film, Cherrybomb, after setting up an online
petition.
The coming-of-age drama premiered at the Berlin Film Festival
earlier this year, but failed to find a distributor. Fans set up
an online petition for its release, and lobbied the industry in
an attempt to drum up interest. Producers now say a distribution
deal has been signed, and the Belfast-set movie should be released
in 2010.
Grint, 21, previously said was delighted by the fan campaign, which
was dreamt up by a website called Ice Cream Man.
"I am backing this campaign wholeheartedly," he said.
"I'm delighted by the huge support the film has already received
on the official Facebook page and other sites on the web and am so
grateful to my fans in particular, who have travelled the world to
support the film at festivals and preview screenings."
Film producer Simon Bosanquet, from Britain's Generator Entertainment,
also paid tribute to Grint's fans.
"With a lot of independent films, it is hard to get them noticed," he
told the BBC News website.
"Rupert Grint has a very dedicated fanbase and it was very much
down to them that this started."
Grint has been playing Ron Weasley since he was 12 years old.
Cherrybomb also stars James Nesbitt and Kimberley Nixon - who appeared
in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. It tells the story of two
teenage friends who battle for the affections of a femme fatale in
post-troubles Northern Ireland.
"I really loved the script," Grint told German TV after
the film's screening in Berlin in February.
"The whole relationship triangle - it was a really interesting
story."
Much attention has been paid to the fact that Grint, famous for
playing the flame-haired goofball Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter
series, stars in a film that features bedroom scenes and drug taking.
"The film is a lot more than that," Bosanquet told the
BBC News website. "I suppose the interest of certain tabloids
tends to be focused on areas where they can see Rupert playing characters
unlike the ones he has played before."
Bosanquet said the film's release date would be decided by the new-found
distributors, but it was likely to be in cinemas during the first
half of 2010.
The film's sales agent, The Little Film Company, is also in negotiation
with an American distributor. BBC |
