With the first movie acquisition for Mongrel Media’s new international division coproduced by Los Angeles-based Bob Cooper of Landscape Films, Maudie was always going to have a cast to allow the Canadian-Ireland coproduction to sell widely international.

Now comes word from Mongrel International that Hollywood veteran Ethan Hawke is to star in Maudie, with Aisling Walsh directing. Hawke is to play Everett Lewis, opposite co-star Sally Hawkins.

The film portrays Maud Lewis, whose physical abilities are limited and is a burden to her family, but who is hired by Everett to be his housekeeper.

Terrible at housework, Lewis soon covers the walls of his tiny home with her colorful paintings, leading Everett, a hardened man, to unexpectedly fall in love.

Maudie is written by Canadian screenwriter Sherry White and is set to shoot in July in Newfoundland.

Cooper is coproducing with Mary Young Leckie of Solo Productions and Susan Mullen of Dublin-based Parallel Films (Albert Nobbs).