Top 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2011: John Madden’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

#62. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Director: John Madden
Writer: Deborah Moggach & Ol Parker
Producers: Graham Broadbent
Distributor: Rights Available.

The Gist: Based on Moggach’s novel “These Foolish Things”, this follows a group of British retirees who are lured by enticing advertisements to live out their days in India at the recently restored Marigold Hotel, a former palace. Though their environs turn out to be far less luxurious than billed, their lives are transformed by shared experiences.…(more)

Cast: Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel, Tom Wilkinson and Judi Dench

List Worthy Reasons…: A top 2009 Brit List project, John Madden’s reunion with Judi Dench (Mrs Brown) should count for plenty and the rest of the cast (Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel and Tom Wilkinson) should elevate this into the status of a bold, full spirited adult dramedy. It could be the project that makes us forget about Madden’s horrible track record and this includes everything from Shakespeare in Love and up.

Release Date/Status?: Currently filming, I wouldn’t be surprised if this debuts at the Toronto and London Film Fests. We’ll get a release date once the fall schedule over at Fox Searchlight is locked.