Austenland
Sony Pictures has snatched up the rights to Jerusha Hess’ comedy “Austenland” for a little over $ 4 million, with Sony Pictures Classics to distribute it domestically. Keri Russell plays a woman obsessed with a BBC production of Pride and Prejudice who travels to a Jane Austen-styled English resort to find her perfect gentleman. Sony beat out FilmDistrict and Executive Releasing who were expected to lock down a deal yesterday.
Concussion
The Weinstein Company has taken Stacie Passon’s provocative “Concussion” about a married, wealthy, lesbian housewife (played by Robin Weigert) who, after a blow to the head, becomes a high-class prostitute. The Weinstein’s will release it through their Radius-TWC label sometime in the early Fall.
Don Jon’s Addiction
Relativity has scored Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut “Don Jon’s Addiction” for $ 4 million along with a massive $ 25 million publicity and advertising commitment. The film is expected to score a wide release on over 2,000 screens sometime this Summer. JGL plays a womanizing porn addict who makes changes in his life in order to find love.
Fruitvale
The Weinstein Company has acquired Ryan Coogler’s debut feature “Fruitvale,” beating out several studios in a fierce bidding war for this breakout film. The deal was for just over $ 2 million and guarantees a commitment for a major theatrical release. Michael B. Jordan plays Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old man who was shot dead in Oakland by transit police in a case that caused protests over police brutality in the Bay Area.
The Way Way Back
Fox Searchlight has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire domestic rights and several other territories for “The Descendants” writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s directorial debut “The Way, Way Back” starring Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell and Toni Collette. The price is a whopping $ 10 million minimum guarantee, along with a P&A and theatrical commitment.
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