In Like Flynn

Errol Flynn's Incredible Pre-Hollywood Life

Cast: Thomas Cocquerel, Corey Large, William Moseley
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Genre: Action

Synopsis: Adventurer, opium smuggler, gambler, street fighter, buccaneer, gold prospector and lover…

The remarkable early life of one of Australia's most famed sons will captivate moviegoers when Umbrella Entertainment releases the adventure biopic, In Like Flynn across cinemas nationally on 11 October 2018.

Directed by Russell Mulcahy (Highlander 1 & 2, Resident Evil: Extinction, Teen Wolf) with rising star, Thomas Cocquerel (Kidnapping Mr. Heineken, Billionaire Boys Club, Red Dog: True Blue) in the titular role, In Like Flynn transports audiences to 1930, before Errol Flynn became a legendary matinee idol of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Whilst serving as a guide for a Hollywood producer in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, young Flynn discovers a trail that will lead to a fortune in gold. Back in Depression-era Sydney, he recruits a motley group of fellow opportunists with whom he sets sail in a yacht stolen from Chinese opium smugglers. What follows is a mythical and satirical coming-of-age story about four men on a journey to find hope, adventure and fortune at a time when the world was spiralling into despair.

Shot entirely on location in Queensland's Gold Coast and co-starring Corey Large, William Mosely, Isabel Lucas, David Wenham, with Dan Fogler and Clive Standen, this is the story of a man whose real life exploits were arguably more colourful and outrageous than any he depicted on the silver screen.

A 308 Enterprises Presentation and ILF AU FILMS Production, In Like Flynn is produced by Corey Large and James M. Vernon, with a screenplay by Marc Furmie, Corey Large, Steve Albert and Luke Flynn - Flynn's grandson - who also served as executive producer alongside Gary Ousdahi, Felipe Dieppa and Joan LeSeur.

Lensed by DOP Peter Holland A.S.C., with an original score by David Hirschfelder, International sales will be handled by Blue Fox Entertainment.

In Like Flynn
Release Date: October 11th, 2018
Trailer

Tom Cocquerel's schoolboy fascination with one of the world's screen icons, ended up paying off, when he scored the movie role of the young adventurous, Errol Flynn, in the movie adventure In Like Flynn

Tom Cocquerel attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School, North Sydney, now known as Shore (School).

But when a young Errol Flynn, freshly expelled from his school in Hobart, Tasmania enrolled at Shore back in the mid 1920s, the school wasn't to know that the precocious sixteen year old lad would end up gracing their prestigious list of Past Pupils including Fynn's classmate at the time John Gorton (former Australian PM).

For Tom Cocquerel playing Errol Flynn in the movie In Like Flynn, releasing nationally 11 October, all makes sense, both as a past pupil of Shore himself, and having had a teenage obsession with the legend.

'I went to Sydney Church of England Grammar School…should I say 'Shore'.

I loved it, and when I was there for some reason I heard this story that Errol Flynn, one of the all time legends of old Hollywood in the 30s through to 50s, was an old boy. And sure enough, he was 'Shore' Alumni.

I had already decided I loved acting, so Flynn being from my school and making it to Hollywood was just amazing to me. So that was it, I decided I would do a school project on who else but… Errol Flynn.

When I looked into his life, I found out he was a local kid living in Chatswood back then, around 1926 I recall. He loved his rugby, cricket and tennis, had already showed he was a performer back when he was 9 in a school play in Tasmania, and before he enrolled at 'Shore' was schooled for a few years in England.

I watched a few of his films for research, and I was swinging like Flynn off the trees. Seeing Flynn hit Hollywood running with the success of his swashbuckling swordsmanship in Captain Blood (1935), then Robin Hood, The Charge Of The Light Brigade, and They Died With Their Boots On just inspired me as a teenager. Mate, if he could do that, maybe…I have to say I did have a bit of a schoolboy obsession after that project, which may account for me ending up as an actor, I felt I had a lot in common with the young Flynn.

But, I have to say one thing we don't have in common, that I discovered from my project, was that Errol Flynn was expelled from Shore. I may have played up a little as a student but not enough to be thrown out. And I think the school expunged poor young Errol from the records for a while, well at least until he became a star.'
- Tom Cocquerel – starring as Errol Flynn in In Like Flynn.

The story is that Errol Flynn's expulsion from Shore was for theft and fighting, but he was known to tell the story that he was caught having sex with the school laundress. Shore was the first or only school Flynn was alleged to have been expelled from.

Cocquerel, on now playing the Legend in the movie – In Like Flynn:

'For me to then be up to audition for the role of Errol Flynn a decade or so on from my presenting that school project, was sort of cool when you think about it, because here I am now actually playing him on screen – In Like Flynn. It's just insane.

The guy was just this incredibly complex individual. Fearless really, especially when he was young, which is when the movie takes place. Even at that young age of twenty he had experienced a fairly big life. Then he hit America and the big screen.

And what about that accent, it was pretty unique. He had schooled in England before returning to Australian and Shore, so It was a sort of a mix of classes and cultures to be honest. Took me awhile to get it right for the movie.

What you see in this movie and just amazes me, is the fact that if you befriended him, be ready, because he dragged you on the ride with him, even if you were kicking and screaming. Man, he went for it, dived in head-first and that is how he lived the rest of his life.

So for everyone involved in this movie, it was really all about showing this charismatic, Australian larrikin, the comradery and friendships he attracted, the romancing he got up to and importantly the bonds he made and how he just embraced life, no limits.

I got to play this real-life character – Errol Flynn – the boy who attended my old Alma Marta – Shore.'
- Tom Cocquerel – starring as Errol Flynn in In Like Flynn

In Like Flynn
Release Date: October 11th, 2018
Trailer