Laura Haddock

Source: Iona Wolff 

Laura Haddock

The UK’s WestEnd Films has come on board to launch worldwide sales at AFM on family feature The Boy At The Back Of The Class, based on Onjali Q Rauf’s 2018 children’s book of the same name. Stephen Herek – the US filmmaker behind 101 Dalmatians and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – is to direct.

The screenplay will be penned by A Streetcat Named Bob screenwriter Tim John. Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Laura Haddock is attached to star.

When a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school, Alexa and her group of classmates befriend him. As Alexa learns that Ahmet is a refugee, separated from his family, she and her friends will do anything they can to help, and come up with a plan to reunite him with his family.

Adam Rolston and David Braithwaite at UK outfit Studio Pictures – whose credits include A Street Cat Named Bob – will produce. Nicola Pearcey of Picnik Entertainment and Paul Grindey are executive producers.

The film will begin shooting in early 2023. WestEnd and Gersh will co-represent North American rights.

The Boy At The Back of The Class will show the pure openness and honesty of kids who are non-judgmental and caring and a reminder of how much humanity is lost in bureaucracy, politics and growing up,” said director Herek.