Dominic West, John Cleese and Portia de Rossi Join Jeff Daniels in Trudie Styler's 'The Reception'

Dominic West, John Cleese and Portia de Rossi have joined Jeff Daniels in "The Reception," the ensemble comedy directed by Trudie Styler, with Beta Cinema launching international sales at the American Film Market, which kicks off Nov. 10. CAA is representing domestic rights.

The new arrivals bring weight and comic pedigree to the project. West is known for "The Crown," Cleese for "A Fish Called Wanda," and de Rossi for "Arrested Development." Jeff Daniels was previously announced in the lead ensemble.

Who else joins the cast?

The supporting cast runs deep with character actors from both sides of the Atlantic:

• Bronson Pinchot ("Beverly Hills Cop")
• Nicolas Maury ("Call My Agent")
• Alyth Ross ("Elsinore")
• Eliot Sumner ("Sense and Sensibility")
• Lewis Fleming
• Will Merrick ("Skins")
• Barbara Marten ("Dune: Prophecy")
• Daniel Quincy Annoh ("Dear England")

What is the story about?

"The Reception" is set at a grand Scottish estate. It follows a wedding party that goes ahead despite the absence of the bride and groom. After Felix abandons Victoria at the altar, their families and friends are left to navigate an extravagant reception that quickly spirals out of control. As the guests struggle to keep up appearances, the festivities give way to a string of disasters, comic mishaps and unexpected connections.

Tom Stourton and Tom Palmer wrote the screenplay. Styler is producing alongside Celine Rattray, co-founder of Maven Screen Media ("Eleanor the Great"), and Piers Tempest ("I Swear") of Tempo Productions. Peter Chiarelli and Fred Fernandez-Armesto serve as executive producers.

"It's a director's dream to have actors of this calibre, each with such a distinctive presence and comic instinct, coming together for The Reception," Styler said. "Tom Stourton and Tom Palmer have written a wickedly funny story about what happens when the best-laid plans unravel, and I am overjoyed watching this brilliant ensemble embrace all the chaos, humanity and humour of it."

Where does this sit in Styler's career?

"The Reception" marks Styler's fourth feature-length directing project. It follows "Up Against It," which premiered at Toronto this fall. Her previous directing credits include "Freak Show" and the documentary "Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples."

What does this change for buyers and audiences? The AFM launch on Nov. 10 gives international distributors a first look at a packaged ensemble comedy with a named director and a sales banner, and the casting announcement signals that the project now has the marquee recognition to compete for pre-sales in a market hungry for commercial comedy. A domestic deal through CAA could follow if the film lands with buyers in Santa Monica.