Universal Acquires 'Search Party'

COLOGNE, Germany -- Universal has picked up U.S. rights to Gold Circle's Search Party, a Hangover-style comedy which Scot Armstrong will direct. Armstrong, who penned Hangover 2, co-wrote the script to Search Party with Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller.

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The film's plot has two friends Evan and Jason trying to reunite their buddy Nardo with his estranged fiance, whom they scared off at the altar. After Nardo is carjacked and left naked and broke in Mexico, they begin a series of misadventures south of the Rio Grande.

Armstrong is producing the film together with Paul Brooks (Pitch Perfect), Neal Moritz (21 Jump Street) and Ravi Nandan (Hesher).

Universal, which had a sleeper hit with Gold Circle's comedy Pitch Perfect last year, grossing more than $65 million domestically, plans a late 2014 release for Search Party. Universal has a first-look distribution deal with Gold Circle.

Joe Drake's Good Universe is handling international sales for the project and has closed a deal with German mini-major Tele Munchen Group (TMG) for all theatrical rights in Germany and Austria and TV rights for German-speaking Europe. TMG's theatrical arm Concorde will bow the film in Germany.