Several major acquisition deals of late have been announced.
Saban Films has picked up “Fatman,” the Eshom and Ian Nelms-helmed darkly comedic take on Santa Claus starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The story centers on a neglected and precocious 12-year-old who hires an unorthodox hitman (Goggins) to kill Santa Claus (Gibson) after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.
Saban has also acquired North American rights to the Mark Earl Burman-directed Vietnam War action thriller “Ambush” starring Aaron Echkart, Cody Christian, Dermot Mulroney and Jason Genao. Filming begins this fall in Colombia. The true story tale follows a group of elite commandos tasked with collecting classified information that can change the fate of the war. On the edge of the jungle they must follow the enemy army it into the complex labyrinth of Cu Chi tunnels.
STXfilms has bought the worldwide rights to the Kristen Bell-led comedy “Queenpins” inspired by the true story of the largest coupon counterfeit scam in U.S. history pulled off by a suburban housewife and her illegal coupon club. Her creation ends up scamming millions of dollars from big food companies while delivering deals to millions of fellow coupon clippers. Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Vince Vaughn and Paul Walter Hauser co-star.
Paramount Pictures has acquired the home entertainment and TV licensing rights to three Romulus Entertainment features films – the Margot Robbie-led Depression-era bank robber tale “Dreamland,” the Charlie Hunnam and Jack O’Connell-led bare-knuckle boxing movie “Jungleland,” and the Amber Heard and Jonathan Majors LA street crime pic “Gully”. All three movies will be released in select theaters by Vertical Entertainment in conjunction with their release on home entertainment platforms.
Orion Classics has landed the worldwide rights to Jim Cummings’ horror thriller “The Wolf of Snow Hollow” for an October 9th day-and-date theatrical and on-demand release. The story follows a small-town sheriff who is struggling with a failed marriage, a rebellious daughter and a lackluster department. He is tasked with solving a series of brutal murders that are occurring on the full moon.
Finally, Amazon Prime has announced a November 20th theatrical release followed by a December 4th Amazon Prime release of the Riz Ahmed-led drama “Sound of Metal”. Ahmed plays a punk-metal drummer who suddenly loses his hearing.
Source: Screen
