Newly launched prodco 9 Light Entertainment has announced the early cast attached to its first feature Dumb Luck, based on the novel from Canadian author Lesley Choyce.

Thus far Adam Copeland and Mackenzie Munro are attached to the inaugural project from the Toronto-based prodco, headed by Pasha Patriki. Other cast members currently under consideration for the project include Dylan Everett (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Jesse Bostick (Copper, The Listener, The Borgias). Munro has previously appeared in The Borgias, I Declare War and Portrait of a Serial Monogamist, while former WWE wrestler-turned-actor Copeland has appeared in Haven, Interrogation and Highlander: Endgame.

The prodco, which opened its doors in March, optioned Dumb Luck in May and plans to shoot a proof-of-concept teaser short in August, Patriki said. While the book is not a best-seller, Patriki noted it has a strong following. The coming-of-age subject matter of Dumb Luck also fits into the production company’s strategy of creating internationally-facing indie films with strong festival potential.

“We aren’t looking to make the next Star Wars movie, but something that is driven by the characters – dramatic stories, comedies, that sort of thing,” Patriki told Playback Daily.

Ideally, production on the feature will start next summer. Dumb Luck is currently about 50% financed, Patriki said, and he is looking for additional private equity investors to complete the film’s target budget of $1.2 million. Going forward, Patriki said he plans to always have a slate of three to four films in development for the production company.

Director Jonathan Popalis co-wrote the script for Dumb Luck with Aaron Yeger (Sleeping Giant), who will co-produce the project along with Patriki. In addition to acting as owner and managing director of post-house Red Square Motion, Patriki has a number of credits to his name as a cinematographer, including Sean Cisterna’s Full Out, Akan Satayev’s Hacker and Allan Ungar’s Tapped Out.