Sundance: Teen Thriller ‘Thoroughbred’ Selling to Focus

It was a horse race, and Focus Features is finishing by a nose to take worldwide rights to Cory Finley’s thriller Thoroughbred. A source pegged the deal at $5 million.

The film made its world premiere Saturday at Sundance at the Library Center Theatre in Park City, Utah, and drew immediate interest from a host of buyers including The Orchard and Netflix.

Written and directed by Finley, the film stars Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, the late Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks, Francie Swift and Kaili Vernoff.

The story revolves around two teenage girls (Cooke and Taylor-Joy) in suburban Connecticut who rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. In the process, they learn that neither is what she seems to be, and that a murder might solve both of their problems.

“Cory Finley’s debut as a director is stunning,” said Focus chairman Peter Kujawski. “With Thoroughbred, he’s created a wickedly comic, twisted and entertaining ride. The young cast, including Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy and Anton Yelchin, give vibrant performances that bring Finley’s sparkling dialogue to life.”

Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Kevin Walsh, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash produced Thoroughbred. Ryan Stowell, Ted Deiker and Declan Baldwin executive produced.

WME and ICM negotiated the deal.