Amateur Sumo Comedy Film In The Works

A different look inside the world of sumo is looking to be created by Veep creator Armando Iannucci. According to Deadline, Iannucci is teaming up with producer Yann Zanou of Intouchables and Death of Stalin fame.

The coming-of-age comedy is a story that, “Follows the story of Jonah, a silver-tongued and overweight kid with low self-esteem who meets Hana, a Japanese female janitor at his school — and a former sumo wrestler. Along with a pedantic and friendless building manager, they set about building a “dojo” and training for the U.S. Sumo Open.”

Members of HBO’s Avenue 5 will be in charge of the program.  It will be directed by Natalie Bailey and the role of Hana will be performed by Suzy Nakamura.

Producers Emily Leo, Oliver Roskill, Ado Yoshizaki Cassuto and Gianluca Chakra will be providing their services as well.

“As with other films I’ve been involved with in the past, Sumo is the perfect feel-good movie with a heartfelt message at its core that audiences love all around the world,” said Zenou to Deadline. “Richard’s script is literally laugh-out-loud funny whilst delicately exploring themes around body issues, bullying and self-worth. We cannot wait to bring it — and the explosive power of sumo wrestling — to the big screen.”

There is hope this story will have a theatrical release, but it is unsure when and in how many markets. Handling worldwide sales at the European Film Market in Berlin will be Rocket Science.