Percy vs Goliath, known simply as Percy in some territories, is based on a real-life legal case of an independent crop farmer who took on a large-scale agrochemical corporation. One can imagine a shared sentiment that the story would make a great Hollywood movie. Problematically, the reason for thinking this is because Hollywood has made this film before, repeatedly. The familiarity and predictability of the events depicted are the very reason why it shouldn’t be made into a film.

Taking place in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan between 1998 and 2001, the story centres on Percy Schmeiser, a crop farmer in his seventies. Given that he is played by Christopher Walken, there is some hope that the acclaimed actor will inject some of the off-kilter characteristics that make him such a fascinating presence on screen.