British comedian Ben Elton shoots Australia-set “Three Summers”

PanARMENIAN.Net - British comedian, novelist and screenwriter Ben Elton has begun production of “Three Summers”, his first film set in his adopted Australia, Variety reports.

The movie is an ensemble comedy set in the music festival scene and taking place over three consecutive years. Production takes place in the Peel Region of Western Australia.

“Three Summers” is an Invisible Republic / Taylor Media production, with principal investment from Screen Australia and ScreenWest. International sales are handled by Sydney- and Los Angeles-based Arclight Films, with Transmission Films set as the Australian distributor.

Production is by Michael Wrenn of Invisible Republic (“Women He’s Undressed,” “The Rocket”) and Sue Taylor of Taylor Media (“Looking for Grace”.) Executive producer is Mark Anderson.

The cast includes Robert Sheehan (“Misfits”,) Rebecca Breeds (TV’s “Pretty Little Liars”,) John Waters (TV’s “Offspring”,) Magda Szubanski (“Happy Feet,” “Babe”,) and Michael Caton (“Last Cab to Darwin”.)

“Festivals are the great levelers. We’re all equal in the queue for the Portaloos and no one looks cool dancing in a swamp. Stories collide, cultures clash and romance blossoms beneath the glorious Australian sun. Then it rains.

Aside from 15 novels including “Stark,” “Popcorn” and “Dead Famous,” Elton has screenwriting credits that include television comedies “The Young Ones,” “Blackadder” and “Mr Bean,” as well as “Maybe Baby” his first feature, adapted from novel “Inconceivable.” He wrote and directed the Olivier Award winning, Queen musical “We Will Rock You” that ran in London for twelve years, and has played in 28 countries. More recently, he wrote and created the 2016 comedy series “Upstart Crow,” starring David Mitchell as a young William Shakespeare.