Even though it’s decidedly patchy, there’s plenty to like about HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” not least of which is Rhys Darby, as the band’s inept manager Murray, who steals the show in pretty much every episode. The New Zealand-born comedian’s made some tentative in-roads into film, appearing in supporting roles in the Jim Carrey vehicle “Yes Man” and the Richard Curtis misfire “The Boat That Rocked”/”Pirate Radio,” and has a lead role coming up in the indie rom-com “Coming & Going.”
Today, Deadline are reporting that he’ll be returning home for the New Zealand/UK co-production “Love Birds.” What’s more, he’ll be joined by Sally Hawkins, who was so great in Mike Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky.” She’s also taken a little while to capitalize on the success of that film, appearing only in a brief cameo in “An Education,” but she’s got lead roles in upcoming British indies “Submarine” and “Made in Dagenham” coming up, as well as joining the cast of Cary Fukunaga’s “Jane Eyre.” In “Love Birds,” Hawkins will play a “kooky” vet” who helps a recently-dumped man (Darby) cares for an injured bird.
Filming’s currently underway, under the stewardship of Paul Murphy, who was behind the well-received New Zealand indie “Second Hand Wedding,” and is produced by Alan Harris and Matthew Metcalfe, who were behind the charming, underseen Peter O’Toole-starrer “Dean Spanley.” It sounds a tad generic, and any time someone or something are described as ‘kooky’ we feel a little nauseous, but we’re looking forward to seeing the two actors work together.
