Arrow Films has secured all U.K. rights to John Slattery’s feature directorial debut God’s Pocket, starring the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The U.K. independent banner sealed the deal with Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment for what proved to be one of Hoffman’s final turns before his death.
The story revolves around Hoffman’s character, Mickey, who tries to cover up the accidental death of his insane stepson, Leon, played by Caleb Landry Jones.
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IFC Films will release the movie May 9 in the U.S. in theaters before a VOD rollout begins May 14.
The film was at the center of a bidding frenzy for foreign rights after debuting at this year’s Sundance.
Electric got the deal and took it to the European Film Market in Berlin, with the project attracting even more attention after Hoffman was found dead in his New York apartment.
Electric’s head of international distribution Sonia Mehandjiyska negotiated the deal with Tom Stewart, acquisitions director for Arrow Films.
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“Upon seeing the film for the first time, I was so compelled by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance and John Slattery’s take on the material that I made it a point to personally pursue the rights for our company,” said Electric CEO Devlin. “This is just the first step in presenting this film to world audiences, and we look forward to working with Arrow in bringing it to film fans in the U.K.”
“The film stands as a great example of just what a wonderful actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was and to see such a rich ensemble cast perform at the top of their game alongside him provides a fitting testament to the late star. We’re thrilled to be collaborating on our first picture with Electric Entertainment,” commented Stewart.
Hoffman stars alongside Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro and Jones.
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God’s Pocket was written by Slattery and Alex Metcalf, based on the novel by Pete Dexter.
Producers are Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord, Slattery, Emily Ziff and Hoffman through his Cooper’s Town Productions.
It is a Park Pictures Film in association with Cooper’s Town Productions and Shoestring Pictures.
Hoffman won an Oscar for his leading role in 2005’s Capote.
