U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
In Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s charming directorial debut, a selfish modern-day Don Juan attempts to change his ways. Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly, Rob Brown.
PARK CITY — In the biggest deal at Sundance thus far, Relativity Media said Monday that it is acquiring U.S. rights to Don Jon’s Addiction, Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s directorial debut. The company is paying about $4 million for the film, with a roughly $25 million P&A commitment, according to sources.
The film is likely to receive a theatrical release this summer, a source said.
Don Jon’s attracted strong interest from several distributors, with negotiations lasting through the first weekend of the festival.
“Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an incredibly talented filmmaker and he has created a bold, funny and moving story and we are proud to work with him,” said Tucker Tooley, president of Relativity, in a statement.
Gordon-Levitt also wrote and stars in the film as a selfish modern-day Don Juan who attempts to change his life’s routine. The film also stars Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly and Rob Brown.
“I always intended this to be a movie for a mass popular audience,” Gordon-Levitt said in a statement. “Everyone told me it was a long shot … I couldn’t possibly be more grateful.”
SUNDANCE REVIEW: Don Jon’s Addiction
Don Jon’s premiered Jan. 18 at Eccles Theatre as part of Sundance’s Premieres category.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s chief film critic Todd McCarthy wrote of the film: “Crude, repetitive and rigorously single-minded, the popular actor’s writing and directing debut lays it all on a bit thick, as the few points the film has to make are underscored time and time again. Still, the preoccupation with sex, and the presence of Scarlett Johansson as the object of some of that obsession, might hit high school- and college-age boys where they live, resulting in a tidy piece of change from that particular market.”
The film was produced by Ram Bergman; Nicolas Chartier executive produced.
CAA and WME co-represented the filmmakers.
E-mail: Daniel.Miller@thr.com; Tatiana.Siegel@thr.com
Twitter: @DanielNMiller; @TatianaSiegel27
