EXCLUSIVE: Iranian American producer and director Evan Mirzai’s House of M has acquired all rights to The Cupid Index, the debut 2021 novel of UK-Iranian novelist Sheeva Moshiri about a 30-year-old woman caught between her U.S. upbringing and wealthy traditional Persian background.
Mirzai, who has made the Black List four times and is co-founder of the WGA’s Middle Eastern Writers Committee, has adapted the novel into a feature script he will direct, produce and co-finance under his House of M banner
The principal cast includes Shiva Negar (Deadly Vows, American Assassin), Alexander Uloom (House of David) and Sam Asghari (Jackpot, Lioness) and will also feature viral comedy influencers and actors Jake Jonez and Caroline Kennedy.
Mirzai says the “modestly budgeted” rom-com is applying for California tax credits.
According to Mirzai, The Cupid Index tells the story of “a Persian Princess in Beverly Hills, single and about to turn 30, who moves out on her own and into the real world in search of love after her billionaire Uncle and demanding Mother make her an ultimatum: get married in three months to a man of her choice or they’ll find a husband for her”.
London and Monaco-based writer Moshiri, has signed with House of M and is already developing her sophomore novel.
“During a time of great upheaval and on the doorstep of the Persian New Year Nowruz, it is our duty as Iranian creatives to show the world a side of our people and customs that are not as well known, that we are a humorous and loving people and we are just as relatable and comically flawed as any other culture,” said Mirzai.
Supervising physical production for The Cupid Index is House of M’s Omeed Kiafar. A graduate of USC’s Marshall School of Business and L.A.-born Iranian American, Kiafer has recently joined the House of M as its head of physical production.
Moshiri and Kiafar will also executive-produce the project. Mirzai, Moshiri, Uloom, Jonez and Kennedy are repped by House of M and Greenberg Glusker, Negar is repped by Crimson Media and The Characters Agency and Asghari is repped by BAC Talent.
English (US) ·