Wernher Pramschufer and Simon West to Produce Tolkien & Lewis

Online, April 10, 2014 (Newswire.com) - British director and producer Simon West has joined with Wernher Pramschufer as a producer for the forthcoming film Tolkien & Lewis. Simon brings a strong track record of directing and production (his films have cumulatively grossed a billion dollars) and offers extensive knowledge and expertise in making films that are popular, profitable and hugely entertaining.

UTA has also just signed Simon West and his producing partner Jib Polhemus. West is in post-production on Wild Card, William Goldman's adaptation of his book that stars Jason Statham and Sofia Vergara, with Sierra/Affinity financing. This comes after West directed The Mechanic with Statham and Ben Foster, and The Expendables 2, with Statham and Sly Stallone leading the macho ensemble. West left Resolution, and became in play after the recent exits of Martin Spencer and Adam Kanter.

West also directed Con Air, The General's Daughter, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. He was exec producer on Black Hawk Down, and is re-teaming with that writer, Ken Nolan, to direct the adaptation of the David Zucchino book Thunder Run. West also works in TV, producing Fox's Keen Eddie, CBS's Close to Home, Fox'sHuman Target and NBC's The Cape. West and Polhemus continue to be lawyered by Barry Tyerman.

West and Pramschufer are now casting for the roles of the two great authors, working with top UK casting directors, Hubbards Casting.. Several high level talent agencies, including CAA have become involved and the expectation is to have the two lead roles cast in time for a late summer or early autumn shoot in the UK.