Annapurna has picked up worldwide rights to the supernatural comedy Sorry to Bother You, one of the most critically divisive films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Set in an alternate present-day version of Oakland, California, the movie stars Lakeith Stanfield as an unsure telemarketer who discovers a magical key that gives him an unbeatable ability to sell heinous products. It all raises red flags with his artist girlfriend (Tessa Thompson) and draws him into the macabre universe of his company’s CEO (Armie Hammer).
Steven Yeun, Jermaine Fowler and Omari Hardwick are also featured in the film, which made its world premiere in the U.S. Drama section at Sundance.
Boots Riley makes his feature directing debut with the project, helmed from his own script. Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Charles King, George Rush, Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams produced.
Annapurna, the Megan Ellison-headed production outfit, picked up Sorry to Bother You in a competitive situation for a low-mid seven-figure deal. Endeavour Content negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.
“We fucking love this movie,” Annapurna said Thursday in a succinct statement.
