Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions have scored the US theatrical rights to the Toronto Film Festival's closing night film "Amazing Grace", Michael Apted's historical slave trade drama reports the trades.
Penned by Steven Knight ("Dirty Pretty Things"), Ioan Gruffudd stars as William Wilberforce who led the British Empire to end slavery at the turn of the 19th century with the help of slave trader-turned-abolitionist Rev. John Newton (Albert Finney) and his wife (Romola Garai).
It will be released February 23rd 2007, the 200th anniversary of Parliament's vote to end slavery throughout the British empire. Lakeshore Entertainment has picked up international rights, and plans to begin selling the movie during Toronto.
