AFM 2011: Ron Howard's Racing Movie 'Rush' Snapped Up by Foreign Buyers

As the American Film Market drew to a close Wednesday, Exclusive Media Group reported Ron Howard’s Formula 1 racing movie, Rush, found eager buyers in key markets.

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Alex Walton, president of Exclusive Films International, completed all rights deals with StudioCanal for the U.K., Alliance Films for Canada, Aurum for Spain, Universum/RTL for Germany, E1 for Australia and New Zealand, MisLabel for Scandinavia, and Independent in Benelux. Exclusive also wrapped up a series of deals in most of the rest of the world.

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Unversal will release the film domestically in the U.S. next year.

“We are delighted that the marketplace responded so well to Rush. We believe this film will be a major event title for the end of 2012 and we have the strongest international partners to realize that worldwide,” Walton said.

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The movie, which begins filming in the U.K. and Germany in February, follows the rivalry between two drivers played by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl. Olivia Wilde also stars in the screenplay by Peter Morgan.

It is being co-produced and co-financed by Exclusive and Cross Creek Pictures, joined by production companies Imagine Entertainment, Working Title and Revolution Films. Howard, Brian Oliver, Brian Grazer, Eric Fellner, Morgan and Andrew Eaton are all producing.  Exclusive’s co-chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East will executive produce the film with Exclusive’s head of production Tobin Armbrust.  Imagine’s Todd Hallowell will also executive produce.