Rivulet Media announced today that Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize winning writer John Patrick Shanley will write and direct the upcoming comedy “The Twinkle Brothers.” Rivulet Films will produce with recently named President Rob Paris taking the lead. Casting is underway with filming to begin in New York this fall.

“The Twinkle Brothers” is a tale told by avuncular café owner Mordecai who, when tasked with the responsibility of looking after his precocious six-year old granddaughter Rita for an afternoon, spins her a yarn about Freddie and Miguel, two insanely competitive brothers from Puerto Rico who come to New York and end up with competing restaurants directly across the street from one another. The brothers stop at nothing to be the best on the block, ratcheting up the competition to the delight of their neighbors who are treated to bizarrely spectacular light shows, dueling Santas and seemingly endless plates of delicious and comforting food.

Shanley is a playwright, screenwriter and director whose original screenplay, “Moonstruck,” won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Distributed by MGM, “Moonstruck” stars Cher and Nicolas Cage and was directed by Norman Jewison. Shanley also wrote and directed Miramax’s Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated “Doubt,” starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis and was based on his Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play “Doubt, A Parable.” Most recently, Shanley wrote and directed Bleecker Street’s “Wild Mountain Thyme,” an adaption of his play “Outside Mullingar,” starring Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken.

“The Twinkle Brothers” reunites Shanley with Paris, who previously served as Shanley’s agent during his tenure at CAA. Said Paris, “I so desperately missed speaking with John every day that I stalked him until he agreed to let me be a part of this film. I cannot wait to get started.” Shanley is represented by CAA and attorney Harrold Brown.

Rivulet Media (RIVU) is a publicly traded company with Mike Witherill and Arizona real estate investor Aaron Klusman serving as COO and CEO respectively. Veteran producer Rob Paris serves as President of Rivulet Media’s film division, which is backed by a consortium of investors led by early Peloton backer Larry Silver. The company recently wrapped production back-to-back features “Please Baby Please” starring Andrea Riseborough and Demi Moore and “The Mistress” starring John Magaro and Chasten Harmon.