Noah Jupe plays a version of Shia LaBeouf as a child, while Lucas Hedges takes over the role as an adult.
Natasha Braier/Sundance InstituteAmazon isn’t done shopping at Sundance. The studio has closed a deal to acquire worldwide rights to Shia LaBeouf’s semi-autobiographical drama Honey Boy, directed by Israeli filmmaker Alma Har’el. A source pegged the deal at $5 million.
Written by and starring LaBeouf, the film was seen by buyers as a return to form for the actor, who plays the hard-drinking, law-breaking ex-rodeo clown father of a former child star. Lucas Hedges and Noah Jupe also star.
Critics embraced the LaBeouf passion project, with The Hollywood Reporter‘s Jon Frosch calling it “a sensitive, sincere portrait of a child actor’s dysfunctional upbringing and its devastating fallout.” Sony Pictures Classics and HBO also had been chasing the pic before Amazon landed it, marking its fourth pickup of the market, following mega-deals for Late Night ($13 million for U.S. rights), The Report ($14 million for worldwide) and Brittany Runs a Marathon ($14 million for worldwide).
Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Anita Gou, Christopher Leggett and Har’el produced the film, while Fred Berger, Rafael Marmor, Daniel Crown and Bill Benenson executive produced.
Honey Boy made its world premiere Jan. 25 at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, where it is screened in competition.
Endeavor Content and CAA negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.
