MGM, Lantern Entertainment Partner for ‘Boys in the Boat’ Movie

MGM and Lantern Entertainment are partnering for period sports drama Boys in the Boat.

Based on The New York Times bestselling nonfiction book The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown, the movie will follow the University of Washington men’s rowing team, which defeated powerhouses like Harvard and Yale on its way to ultimately winning an Olympic gold medal over host team Germany in 1936.

MGM, which will next release Creed II, will handle distribution of the film.

Lantern Entertainment is an affiliate of Lantern Capital Partners, which acquired The Weinstein Co. for $289 million in July. Lantern Entertainment is partnering with STXfilms to distribute The Upside, starring Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart, which was left in limbo during TWC’s bankruptcy. Boys in the Boat will mark the first production for Lantern, which worked with consultants that include former Lionsgate co-president Steve Beeks and Open Road Films CFO Alexa Platt, to help establish the company’s production operations.

“We couldn’t be more honored and excited to partner with Andy [Mitchell], Milos [Brajovic] and the stellar team at Lantern on this epic and inspirational story vividly told by Daniel Brown,” said Jonathan Glickman, MGM’s motion picture group president. “The themes, characterizations and settings make it a story meant to be experienced on the big screen, and we are honored to be part of bringing it to audiences around the world.”

“We are proud to be partnering with MGM and their incredibly talented team of executives to bring this moving story to audiences worldwide,” said Lantern Entertainment co-presidents Mitchell and Brajovic. “Collaborating with MGM on Lantern Entertainment’s first production reinforces our commitment to foster productive partnerships anchored by powerful stories we are passionate about.”