Tribeca: Taylor Schilling Comedy ‘Take Me’ Nabbed by The Orchard

The Orchard has acquired director Pat Healy’s feature directorial debut Take Me. The black comedy, which stars Taylor Schilling and Healy, will make its world premiere at next month’s Tribeca Film Festival.

The Orchard will give the film a theatrical and digital release on May 5.

Mark and Jay Duplass serve as executive producers, while Mel Eslyn and Sev Ohanian are producing the film set in the world of boutique simulated abduction. The story follows Ray (Healy), who jumps at the chance when a mysterious call contracts him for a weekend kidnapping with a handsome payday at the end. But the job isn’t all that it seems. Black List writer Mike Makowsky penned the screenplay.

Related Stories

News

Jane Fonda Returns to Washington for First In-Person Climate Change Event Since Pandemic

TV

'Friday Night Lights' Reunion: Connie Britton to Star in Jason Katims Apple Series 'Dear Edward'

The acquisition puts the Duplass brothers back in business with The Orchard (the pair has an output deal with the distributor). As part of the deal, The Orchard takes worldwide theatrical, digital rental and sales, cable/satellite VOD, airline, DVD and soundtrack rights. Netflix will release the film on its worldwide streaming platform later this year.

The Take Me filmmaking team recently set up a website promoting the faux company “Kidnap Solutions LLC,” which claims to be a fully immersive exposure therapy that has been known to cure alcoholism, drug addiction, overeating, nicotine addiction, sex/love addiction and bad habits.

Healy, who began his career onstage at Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theatre Co., has appeared in more than 40 films including The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Magnolia. His TV work includes Ray Donovan and Six Feet Under. Healy’s first short film, Mullitt — which he wrote, directed and starred in — premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001.

“I was too lazy and/or afraid to direct a feature film for years until I read Mike Makowsky’s inspired script,” Healy said. “I knew I had to do it. Thankfully Jay, Mark and Taylor agreed and gave me the chance to make this crazy thing. It’s the weird/funny movie I hope audiences would expect I’d unleash on the world.”

Added The Orchard’s Julie Dansker: “We are thrilled to collaborate once again with the Duplass brothers. We greatly value our relationship with them and continue to be impressed by their ability to cultivate such inspired projects with stellar talent like Pat and Taylor. Take Me is a uniquely funny film that we know audiences will love.”

The deal was negotiated by ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers and by The Orchard’s Danielle DiGiacomo.