CHARLESTON — Danny McBride’s production company is no stranger to stories of larger-than-life characters.

There’s Jesse Gemstone, the hot-headed eldest son of a Southern televangelist in “The Righteous Gemstones,” and Kenny Powers, the arrogant former professional baseball player in “Eastbound & Down.”

And now Patrick McCollum — a former carnival worker, jewelry designer for the Queen of England, kung fu master and chaplain to serial killers. The California resident, in his fresh life calling as an international peace maker, is the focus of Rough House Picture’s newest collaboration to hit the screen, “The Man Who Saves the World?”

The film by Gabe Polsky documents his encounter with McCollum as they journey to South America. There, McCollum believes he is destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy to unite the tribes of the Amazon in a fight to save the rainforest.

“At the heart of it is this incredible character — someone you just couldn’t make up — and for me, that’s everything,” Polsky said.

The director, writer and producer never set out to make a film about McCollum after the two met through a series of bizarre events. But said he knew pretty quickly he found a one-of-a-kind subject.

“I’ve always been fascinated by prophecy, by the question of whether there’s some larger pattern or purpose behind things,” he said.

The documentary is better seen than described, but at its core “The Man Who Saves the World?” is about questioning personal beliefs, laughing amid the madness and walking the fine line between vision and delusion. Was McCollum, who was friends with Jane Goodall and a consultant for a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a visionary or delusional?

Polsky brings the viewers along for the ride, narrating his trip with McCollum to meet the Indigenous Elders in the Amazon.

The 87-minute documentary may feel like a deviation from Rough House Pictures’ latest string of hits broadcast on HBO Max. But Rough House president Brandon James said the film is exactly what the independent production company, headquartered in Mount Pleasant, was built to promote: unique and authentic people.

“There’s amazing characters at the center of the story, and that’s what we’re always drawn toward,” he said.

Rough House’s founders McBride, Jodi Hill and David Gordon Green came from filmmaking backgrounds as undergraduate film students at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. They’ve since prioritized empowering emerging filmmakers and have a portfolio that spans comedy, horror and action.

James said the decision was a no-brainer to “champion” this film he happened upon through a mutual friend of his and Polsky’s.

Polsky had a worthwhile film and James a company with means to help promote it. McBride, James, Green, Hill and Peter Farrelly serve as executive producers of “The Man Who Saves the World?”

The documentary has been screened in cities around the country and now will come to the Lowcountry Nov. 21 at the Charleston Music Hall. General admission tickets for the all-ages screening start at $29.50. The show begins at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a conversation with Polsky, McCollum, James and possibly McBride.

Polsky said the film is “wilder and more dynamic than almost anything out there.”

“The Amazon is being destroyed, the world feels more chaotic and surreal by the day — and this film taps into that,” Polsky said. “…Patrick, as outrageous as he is, reminds us that it’s OK to dream big and dedicate yourself to something bigger than you — whether it’s humanity, the planet or some wild cosmic calling.”

Polsky most recently wrote, directed and produced “Butcher’s Crossing,” starring Nicolas Cage, which premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). His acclaimed documentaries include “Red Penguins” (2019), “In Search of Greatness” (2018), and “Red Army” (2014), which premiered at Cannes and was released by Sony Pictures Classics.

“The Man Who Saves The World?” is distributed by Area 23A.