John Cleese may be in his 70’s but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing his substantial film career with yet another project. THR reports that the legendary comic actor has joined the cast of the heist comedy Hunting Elephants, from Israeli director Reshef Levy.
Coming from a screenplay in which Levy also wrote focuses on “Jonathan, a precocious 12-year-old whose life threatens to fall apart after his father dies in an accident at the bank he works for. The bank refuses to take responsibility and even threatens to reposes Jonathan’s home, leading to his decision to stage the heist with the only gang he can find: three senior citizens.”
Cleese will join Iraqi actor Sasson Gabai, who is set to play “Jonathan’s cranky grandfather and partner in crime Elijah” with Israeli actor Moni Moshonov playing Elijah’s friend Nick. Levy made his directorial debut back in 2008 with Lost Islands, making Hunting Elephants his second effort.
I’m not familiar with Levy‘s work — either directing or producing efforts — but the synopsis sounds like it could be fun and right up Cleese‘s comedic alley. Aside from the aforementioned project above, Levy has written several TV shows — most notably The Arbitrator, of which he also created.
What do you think of Hunting Elephants and Cleese joining the cast?