The Hollywood Reporter confirms EOne as 'Cosmopolis'

The deal with Kinology gives the Canadian distributor the North American rights to the thriller that stars Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche and Paul Giamatti, ahead of its Cannes debut.

TORONTO - Entertainment One has acquired the U.S. and British distribution rights to David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis from Paris-based Kinology.

That gives Toronto-based Entertainment One the North American rights to Cronenberg’s latest film, which is to screen in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

From Deadline:

LOS ANGELES/TORONTO/LONDON – MAY 3, 2012 – Entertainment One (“eOne”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired the US and UK distribution rights to COSMOPOLIS in all media, from Paris-based Kinology. As previously announced, eOne will also handle the theatrical release of the film in Canada.

Based on award-winning writer Don DeLillo’s novella of the same name, Cosmopolis is a contemporary thriller about a hedge fund trader who is stalked while his fortune evaporates under the weight of his cynical bets against the survival of the global economy.

Directed by the highly-esteemed and multi-award winning David Cronenberg, the film stars Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche and Paul Giamatti. Cosmopolis is a presentation of Paulo Branco and Martin Katz. The film is produced by Paulo Branco of Alfama Films and Martin Katz of Prospero Pictures and is co-produced by Grégoire Melin of Kinology.

“Cosmopolis is a thought-provoking thriller with the perfect blend of dark humour and irony. It’s a highly-compelling film with an all-star cast. This is certainly an exciting film for the US as we continue to grow our theatrical business, and a great addition to the Canadian and UK slates alike,” said David Reckziegel, President, eOne Films North America. “David Cronenberg’s innovative work continues to blow audiences away. We’re thrilled to have this standout film for three of eOne’s core territories,” added Alex Hamilton, Director, eOne Films UK.

The deal was negotiated by Reckziegel and Hamilton for eOne and Grégoire Melin for Kinology.

Cosmopolis is expected to be in theatres in Canada, the US and this UK later this summer. eOne is looking forward to the Cannes Film Festival and announcing more acquisitions in the coming weeks.

From Deadline (earlier):

The Canadian distributor earlier secured the Canadian rights to Cronenberg’s thriller, which is based on Don DeLillo’s novella of the same name.
Cosmopolis stars Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche and Paul Giamatti, and portrays a hedge fund trader who is stalked while his fortune evaporates.
Cosmopolis, a Canada-France co-production, is produced by Paulo Branco of Alfama Films and Martin Katz of Prospero Pictures, with Grégoire Melin of Kinology on board as a co-producer.

Cannes is a month away and already the deals are percolating. Yesterday, The Weinstein Company paid upwards of $3 million for the Dustin Hoffman-directed Quartet. Now, I’m told EOne is closing in on a deal to pay $2 million for North American and UK distribution rights to Cosmopolis, the David Cronenberg-directed adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel that stars Robert Pattinson as financial wunderkind Eric Packer, who risks his entire fortune to bet against the yen on a tumultuous day.

His deed puts him in the crosshairs for assassination in a drama that is a study of capitalism in a slightly futuristic metropolis. Most of the scenes in the book take place in the limousine that transports Packer from place to place. Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti and Samantha Morton also star. eOne has distribution pipelines in Canada and England, but it will likely have to find a distributor for the U.S. Maybe it will be Bob Berney, whom, rumor has it, will be revealing his own distribution company at the upcoming Cannes, after leaving FilmDistrict last year. The acquisition price seems high, though Cronenberg certainly has a following in his home turf in Canada.

Via: RPLife