Sony to remake 'Fathers and Guns'

French-Canadian film was summer hit in Canada, Quebec

By Borys Kit

Nov 10, 2009, 02:47 PM ET

Sony Pictures has picked up the remake rights to the French-Canadian hit "Fathers and Guns" for an adaptation to be developed and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall.

Denise Robert and Emile Gaudreault, producer and writer-director, respectively, of the original film, will also produce.

"Guns" is an action-comedy about two cops, father and son, who can't stand each other. They are assigned to an investigation to infiltrate an outdoor adventure group-therapy camp for fathers and sons.

Released in Quebec this past summer as "De Pere en flic," the film gave Hollywood productions a run for their money. It beat out "Bruno" on opening weekend, took in two-thirds of the summer's ticket sales in French-language films in Quebec and out-grossed Hollywood fare by more than a 50% margin. It is now the highest-grossing French-language film ever released in Quebec and Canada.

" 'Fathers and Guns' is a fantastically funny film, and we're excited to be part of the process of getting this story out to as many people as possible," said Kennedy in a statement. "We greatly admire the work that went into the movie, and recognize that it will be hard to replicate a creative team like Emile Gaudreault, Ian Lauzon, and Denise Robert. We just hope that we can make the English-language adaptation as entertaining and successful as the original has been in Quebec."

Rachel O'Connor will shepherd for Sony Pictures while Matt Jackson oversees for Kennedy/Marshall.

"Guns" marks one of the first projects Kennedy/Marshall have set up at Columbia/Sony since signing their first-look deal this past spring.

Sony to remake 'Fathers and Guns'

French-Canadian film was summer hit in Canada, Quebec

By Borys Kit

Nov 10, 2009, 02:47 PM ET