Weinstein Co. Picks Up French-Language Feature 'Untouchable'

The Weinstein Co. has snapped up rights to the French-language feature Untouchable, which focuses on the unlikely friendship between a wealthy paraplegic and a street-wise man he hires as his aide. In addition to releasing the film domestically in 2012, TWC is contemplating an English-language remake.

The deal with French producer/distributor Gaumont included all rights in North America, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, South Africa and China as well as distribution rights for pan-Asian satellite TV. TWC also has acquired remake rights to co-finance and co-produce an English language version with Gaumont and the film’s original producers Quad Films.

Untouchable is directed by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, produced by Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Yann Zenou and Laurent Zeitoun, and written by Toledano and Nakache. 

Based on a true story, it stars François Cluzet as the wealthy man and Omar Sy as the man he hires as his companion.

The acquisition was announced by TWC’s executive vp of acquisitions and co-productions Peter Lawson, who said the film "is a breathtakingly moving piece of filmmaking with performances that speak straight to the heart. Acquiring this film was an opportunity we did not want to miss -- and we spent the holiday weekend making sure that we didn’t!”

The deal was negotiated for TWC by COO David Glasser and Lawson; and for Gaumont by Cecile Gaget, head of international sales.