HBO FILMS PRESENTS PU-239, WRITER SCOTT Z. BURNS’ FEATURE DIRECTORIAL DEBUT; A BEACON FILMS/SECTION EIGHT PRODUCTION; STARRING PADDY CONSIDINE, RADHA MITCHELL AND OSCAR ISAAC, GRIPPING CAUTIONARY TALE DEBUTS NOV. 17 ON HBO

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Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney And Peter Berg Executive Produce
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HBO Films teams with executive producers Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney and Peter Berg to present PU-239, writer Scott Z. Burns’ directorial debut, based on the short story of the same name by acclaimed author Ken Kalfus. Debuting SATURDAY, NOV. 17 (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, this gripping cautionary tale follows a nuclear engineer who, after an accident at work, travels to Moscow to confront his fate. There, he navigates the intersection of an ailing Soviet infrastructure and the free-market economy of the “new Russia” populated with hoods and hookers.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 17 (4:35 a.m.), 20 (8:00 p.m.), 25 (10:30 p.m.) and 28 (midnight).
HBO2 playdates: Nov. 22 (8:00 p.m.), 25 (2:15 p.m.) and 30 (midnight), and Dec. 2 (12:45 p.m., 8:00 p.m.), 7 (6:00 p.m.), 15 (11:45 a.m.), 18 (4:15 p.m.) and 26 (10:45 a.m.).

Shot on location in Bucharest, Romania and Moscow, PU-239 is executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney and Peter Berg, along with Zanne Devine and Armyan Bernstein for Beacon Films, Ben Cosgrove and Jennifer Fox. The producers are Charlie Lyons, Miranda de Pencier and Guy Jon Louthan.

PU-239 tells the story of a devoted father and husband (Paddy Considine) in post-Soviet Russia who labors in a deteriorating nuclear plant. After being exposed to a deadly dose of radiation while trying to avert a plant disaster, he is made a scapegoat and suspended without pay. With just days to live and desperate to provide for his loving wife (Radha Mitchell) and young son, he impulsively steals a small amount of Pu-239 (weapons grade plutonium) and heads to Moscow to attempt a quick sale. He subsequently gets caught up with the city’s low-level mobsters and the illegal trade of nuclear weapons, turning to an inept, wannabe gangster (Oscar Isaac) to help him sell the dangerous goods on the black market – with potentially deadly consequences for the whole world. The unlikely duo form an awkward friendship, bonded by a love for family and willingness to sacrifice everything for them.

“Inspired by Ken Kalfus’ short story, I was especially drawn to the relationship between the quiet government worker and the brash, violent thug when their paths cross in Moscow,” says writer-director Scott Z. Burns. “Two men at seemingly cross purposes, but with a shared passion for the responsibility that comes with fatherhood, there is nothing they wouldn’t do for the sake of family.”

Paddy Considine (Timofey Berezin) counts “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Dead Man’s Shoes,” “Hot Fuzz,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “Cinderella Man,” “Stoned,” “My Summer of Love,” “A Room for Romeo Brass,” “The Last Resort,” “In America,” “24 Hour Party People,” “Born Romantic” and “The Martins” among his film credits.

Radha Mitchell’s (Marina Berezin) credits include “Feast of Love,” “Melinda and Melinda,” “Finding Neverland,” “Monster’s Ball,” “Everything Put Together,” “Silent Hill,” “Man on Fire,” “Pitch Black,” “Phone Booth,” “High Art,” “Love and Other Catastrophes,” “When Strangers Appear,” “Dead Heat,” “Nobody’s Business,” “Ten Tiny Love Stories” and “Mozart and the Whale.” She also appears in the upcoming “Rogue.”

Oscar Isaac (Shiv) appeared in the films “The Nativity Story” and “All About the Benjamins” and can be seen in the upcoming “Guerrilla” and “In Bloom.” His TV credits include “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”

Scott Z. Burns (writer-director) was one of the producers of the Oscar(r)-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” for which he received the Humanitas Prize. He was part of the writing staff of TV’s “Wonderland,” and has written numerous film screenplays, including “The Bourne Ultimatum,” as well as “The Informant,” an adaptation of Kurt Eichenwald’s novel, with Steven Soderbergh attached to direct, and “74 Gallons,” both of which are in development.

Ken Kalfus (short story writer) is the author of two collections of short stories, “Thirst” and “Pu-239 and Other Russian Fantasies,” as well as two novels, “The Commissariat of Enlightenment” and “A Disorder Peculiar to the Country.” Two other stories by Kalfus, “Night and Day You are the One” and “The Moment They Were Waiting For” are currently in film development.

Peter Berg’s (executive producer) executive producing and producing credits include the TV shows “Friday Night Lights” and “Wonderland.” He is also the director of the feature film “The Kingdom.”

Zanne Devine’s (executive producer) credits include “The Guardian,” “Bring It On: All or Nothing,” “A Lot Like Love,” “House of D,” “Prisoners of Inertia” and “Anna.”

Armyan Bernstein’s (executive producer) credits include “Children of Men,” “13 Days,” “Air Force One,” “The Road to Wellville” and “End of Days.”

Ben Cosgrove’s (executive producer) production credits include “The Good German,” “Rumor Has It…,” “Syriana,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “The Jacket,” “Insomnia,” “Wind Chill” and “Welcome to Collinwood.”

Jennifer Fox (executive producer) executive produced “A Scanner Darkly,” “Cowboys, Indians and Lawyers,” “Rumor Has It…,” “Syriana,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “The Jacket,” “Criminal” and “Michael Clayton.”

Charlie Lyons (producer) is partner and CEO of Beacon Pictures, where he has worked on more than 20 motion pictures, including “Air Force One,” “The Hurricane,” “13 Days,” “Bring It On,” “Spy Game” and “Family Man.” His most recent credits include “The Guardian” and “Raising Helen.”

Miranda de Pencier (producer) produced the acclaimed short film “Eva Meets Felix” and the feature film “Cake.”

Guy Jon Louthan (producer) counts “Seed of Chucky,” “Method,” “A Sound of Thunder,” “Funky Monkey,” “Darkness,” “Committed” and “Clubland” among his many credits.

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