Five-time Emmy winner Neil Patrick Harris (“A Series of Unfortunate Events”, “Gone Girl”), BAFTA nominee James Norton (“Joy”, “Bob Marley: One Love”), and recent Golden Globe and Emmy winner Jessica Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”), have joined Bella Ramsey in the upcoming feature “Sunny Dancer.”
First launched in Cannes 2024 and announced by Variety, the buzzy project — the sophomore feature from rising British talent George Jaques (“Black Dog”) — is set to begin principal photography in April. The trio of new additions also join Louis Partridge and Ruby Stokes in the cast.
Embankment has currently pre-sold “Sunny Dancer” to all European and Latin American territories, with True Brit Entertainment planning a wide 2026 U.K. world premiere release. Ken Petrie (“Black Dog”, “Enemy Within”) is producing under his 27 Ten banner with Jaques and his Athenaeum Productions.
Pitched as a “deeply personal, coming-of-age, comedy romance,” “Sunny Dancer” follows Ivy (Ramsey), a young girl who is less than thrilled when forced to attend a summer camp for young people affected by cancer. Ivy is in her own hard-earned remission, and through her late-teen skepticism “Chemo Camp” is considered both “Cringe!” and a “Hard Pass!”. But, actually, “Sunny Dancer: turns out to be all about turning the “Hard Pass” into the very best moments of life with love, true friendship, and optimism and humor.
“I’m beyond excited to have such insanely talented people on board — absolute masters of their craft —coming together to create a movie that’s equal parts hilarious and gut-punching,” said Jaques. “I want the audience to laugh till they cry, then actually cry, and walk away with a fresh perspective on how the young, in fighting for life, are seen—not as victims, but as bold, complex, and full of life.”
Added Embankment’s Hugo Grumbar: “The movie’s key cast, production HoD’s, and multiple pre-sale distributors recognize George and Ken as amongst the most exciting and refreshing of U.K. filmmakers — young polymath talent, closely in touch with the demands of the audience.”
True Brit CEO Zygi Kamasa said: “I’m thrilled that True Brit brings such a beautiful and life-affirming story with outstanding young British talent to audiences next year. ‘Sunny Dancer’ is the ninth film to of True Brit’s roster of independent British films.”
Gunning is represented by Jonty Brook at Markham, Froggatt and Irwin, UTA in the US and Franky Butler at Prosper PR. Norton is represented by Saskia Mulder at The Artists Partnership, WME in the US, attorney PJ Shapiro at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole and Tapestry London. Harris is represented by Untitled Entertainment, CAA and the Lede Company. Ramsey is represented by Georgie Davies at Conway van Gelder Grant, CAA in the US, Donna Mills at Tapestry London, and attorney Bianca Levin at Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman. Jaques is represented by Markham, Froggatt and Irwin; Untitled Entertainment; CAA and Pinnacle PR.
