LevelK to handle international distribution on feature adapted from con artist stage show.

British actor Timothy Spall and YouTube star John Luc are to star in Sucker, which has begun principal photography in Melbourne, Australia.

Spall, best known for his roles in the Harry Potter franchise and Mike Leigh’s films including the upcoming Mr Turner, will play an conman in the feature.

Luc, who has more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube, will play Lawrence, an 18-year-old Chinese Australian who cheats in his high school final year exams and fails to get into medicine.

Banished to stay with his uncle for the summer, Lawrence meets the Professor (Spall), a colourful, ageing conman and so begins a road-trip with the Professor and his daughter Sarah, played by Lily Sullivan. Other cast members include Kat Stewart and Jacek Koman.

It marks the feature directorial debut of Ben Chessell and is an adaptation of Lawrence Leung’s stage show that toured Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The two have scripted the film together.

Sucker is financed by Screen Australia, Jake Film Finance, Film Victoria and DDP Studios. It is being made by Robyn Kershaw Productions.

Madman Entertainment will distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand.

LevelK, based in Copenhagen and New York, is handling international distribution.