David Bowie in The Linguini Incident (Academy Entertainment photo)
MVD Nabs Rights to 1992 Cult Classic ‘The Linguini Incident,’ Starring David Bowie
February 5, 2024
MVD Entertainment Group has acquired North American rights to Emmy-winning director Richard Shepard’s debut film, The Linguini Incident, which stars the late David Bowie and Rosanna Arquette.
Shepard went on to direct the hit streaming series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” as well as the films The Matador and Dom Hemingway.
MVD is planning a limited theatrical release for the film, followed by a digital and physical media release under the company’s “Marquee Collection” banner. Dates have not yet been announced.
The Linguini Incident is a crime comedy about a perennially underpaid waitress named Lucy (Arquette) and Monte (Bowie), a mysterious, charming (and very in debt) bartender. Lucy is seriously in need of cash and Monte needs to marry someone, anyone, by the end of the week, or face dire consequences at the hands of his creditors.
The two join forces with Lucy’s lingerie-designing best friend, Viv
(Eszter Balint), to rob their terminally hip New York City restaurant and solve their financial woes. However, these three are far from master criminals and they soon learn that in robberies, as in love, things never go as planned.
The Linguini Incident, originally released in 1992, also stars Oscar winner Marlee Matlin, Buck Henry, Andre Gregory, Viveca Lindfors, James Avery and Maura Tierney.
Shepard, who also co-wrote the film’s script, and producer Sarah Jackson re-claimed the rights to the film from Academy Entertainment, scanned and restored the movie in 4K and developed a never-before-seen director’s cut.
“I’m thrilled that the great folks at MVD are going to re-release The Linguini Incident and present this brand-new director’s cut, with an incredibly beautiful transfer,” Shepard said. “It’s going to be a fun discovery or rediscovery for fans of Bowie, Arquette or independent films of the early 90s.”
“I’m a huge fan of Richard’s body of work, especially The Matador, and one of the great privileges of my career is getting to collaborate with some of my favorite filmmakers and help bring their passion projects back to life,” said Eric D. Wilkinson, director of acquisitions at MVD Entertainment Group.
“The Linguini Incident is a criminally underrated gem, and I’m excited to
be re-introducing Richard’s restored director’s cut the way it was meant to be seen under our prestigious ‘Marquee Collection’ banner.”
The deal was negotiated by producer Jackson and Lawrence Kopeikin on behalf of the filmmakers and by Wilkinson on behalf of MVD.