Conchords star linked to Kiwi film

Jemaine Clement, one half of the world famous Kiwi musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, has been tipped for an acting role in Predicament.

Predicament, the only remaining unfilmed novel by Hawera author Ronald Hugh Morrieson, is being produced in South Taranaki by Midnight Productions, with seven weeks of filming due to start next month.

Midnight Productions did not respond to a request for confirmation that Clement has a role.

But Clement's involvement was leaked through a Conchords fan club website, which quoted an interview with Predicament director Jason Stutter where he said: "We're currently putting together the finance to shoot a comedy-crime-caper feature film, which has Jemaine Clement from HBO's Flight of the Conchords attached."

Clement has so far acted in nine movies, the most recent Stutter's Diagnosis Death, filmed secretly in Wellington last year.

This has been described as a Jackson-esque horror spoof about people who start hallucinating after experimental cancer treatment. United States and British distributors bought rights to the film at the Cannes festival in May.

The announcement of Predicament said it was being aimed at a young audience, but there has been no information released about who will play the lead roles, which include two voluptuous women in steamy sex scenes.

The production company is planning an official launch, at which casting and other details of the movie will be announced.

If Clement, 35, is signed up for Predicament, it's likely he will play one of the leading male characters, Cedric Williamson or Mervyn Toebeck.

The film company is now setting up a full production base in central Hawera, in the disused former Warehouse building, with a workforce of up to 50 people, and set building has begun.

- © Fairfax NZ News