A24 and DirecTV have acquired the U.S. distribution rights to The Exception following its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last month.
Directed by David Leveaux, the film stars Lily James (Cinderella, Downton Abbey), Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad, Terminator Genisys) and Christopher Plummer (Beginners).
Based on Alan Judd’s novel The Kaiser’s Last Kiss, the story centers on a German officer (Courtney) who is sent to Holland to determine if the British Secret Service has infiltrated the home of Kaiser Wilhelm II (Plummer) at the onset of World War II. But he begins a lethally dangerous affair with a young Dutch-Jewish woman (James) that results in consequences neither they nor the Kaiser could have foreseen.
Simon Burke adapted the film, which also stars Janet McTeer, Eddie Marsan and Ben Daniels.
Produced by Judy Tossell and Lou Pitt, The Exception is an Egoli Tossell Film/Ostar Production in association with Alton Road Prods., Silver Reel, uMedia, Lotus Entertainment and Film House Germany.
UTA negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers, while Lotus is selling the foreign rights.
