Stephen Frears - H 2012
Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesIt’s official. The Weinstein Company has acquired distribution rights in the United States, Canada, the U.K. and Spain to director Stephen Frears’ dramedy Philomena.
TWC was the winning bidder for the film. Buyers were shown seven minutes of the Judi Dench–Steve Coogan starrer during the Cannes Film Festival on May 16.
Based on a true story, Philomena centers on an Irish woman who searches for the illegitimate son she gave up for adoption in the U.S. TWC will release the film in the fall.
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Coogan and Jeff Pope wrote the screenplay, which is based on the 2009 novel The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith. The project was produced by Coogan, Tracey Seaward and Gabrielle Tana.
Baby Cow’s Henry Normal, BBC Films’ Christine Langan, Pathe’s Francois Ivernel and Cameron McCracken and Magnolia Mae Films’ Carolyn Marks Blackwood executive produced.
The deal was negotiated by David Glasser, Mark Gooder, Dan Guando, Michal Steinberg and Robert Walak for TWC. Cameron McCracken and Muriel Sauzay negotiated on behalf of Pathe.
“I am delighted to be working again with my dear friends Judi Dench and Stephen Frears,” TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein said. “We have had great successes in the past together, and I have always enjoyed the collaboration.”
Email: Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com, Twitter: @TatianaSiegel27
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