Equals First Look Exclusive - H 2014
Jessica FordeA24 is closing a deal to acquire U.S. rights to sci-fi love story Equals.
Equals, which stars Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult, first screened at the Venice International Film Festival, but the deal-making kicked off after the North American premiere at TIFF on Sept. 13.
Drake Doremus, whose film Like Crazy won Sundance’s grand jury prize, helmed Equals, which tells the story of Nia (Stewart) and Silas (Hoult), co-workers in a utopian future where human emotion has been genetically eliminated. When there is word that a disease has broken out that causes the remanifestation of emotion, Silas and Nia are confirmed to have the disease. The two must then decide whether to stay in their current reality, with the possibility of being found out and promptly dealt with, or to run away toward their possible freedom. Nathan Parker wrote the screenplay.
After Equals’ TIFF premiere, several buyers aggressively pursued the project including A24 and Sony Pictures Classics, among others.
The film also stars Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver. Route One Entertainment financed along with Freedom Media and Surefire Entertainment Capital. Scott Free’s Michael Schaefer and Michael Pruss, Ann Ruark, Jay Stern and Chip Diggins produced. Scott Free’s Ridley Scott, Route One’s Russell Levine, Lee Jae Woo and Choi Pyung Ho executive produced.
UTA Independent Film Group repped domestic rights, while Mister Smith Entertainment handled international.
