Sundance 2013: A24 Acquires 'The Spectacular Now'

"The Spectacular Now"

PARK CITY -- A24 has acquired North American rights to The Spectacular Now for an undisclosed price. The high school-set drama will be given a theatrical release this summer.

The film from director James Ponsoldt and writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer) stars Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley as two adolescent teens whose budding relationship blurs the line between saving and corrupting. It also stars Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Kyle Chandler.

The Spectacular Now premiered as part of Sundance's U.S. Dramatic Competition at Library Center Theatre on Jan. 18.

The deal is the second major sale of a narrative feature at Sundance this year. As THR first reported, IFC Films picked up Michael Winterbottom's Look of Love on Jan. 20.

A24 is a new distribution/production company that was formed in mid-2012; it was co-founded by David Fenkel, one of the founders of Oscilloscope Laboratories. The Spectacular Now is the company's first Sundance acquisition. 

“We fell in love with this film the minute that we watched it, and we know the rest of the country will embrace this timeless love story,” A24 said in a statement. “James has directed a wonderful film that depicts young love with complete authenticity, and has two young stars giving incredible performances with Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley.”

THR gave The Spectacular Now a positive review, calling it "a sincere, refreshingly unaffected look at teenagers and their attitudes about the future."  

Neustadter and Weber are executive producing with   Matthew Medlin and Marc Shmuger. Tom McNulty, Shawn Levy, Andrew Lauren and Michelle Krumm are producers.

The filmmakers were represented by UTA. 

The Exchange is handling international sales for the film.

Email: Daniel.Miller@THR.com; Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com

Twitter: @DanielNMiller; @TatianaSiegel27