STXinternational, a division of STX Entertainment, has moved in to handle the international rights to Dave Franco’s directorial debut The Rental from Black Bear Pictures and will be introducing the film to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market.
Written by Franco and Joe Swanberg, the film stars Dan Stevens (Lucy in the Sky, Beauty and the Beast, Downton Abbey, The Guest), Golden Globe® nominee Alison Brie (“Glow”, The Post), Shelia Vand (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Argo) and Jeremy Allen White (“Shameless”, “Homecoming”).
The Rental is about two couples, who embark on a weekend getaway to a seemingly perfect house they’ve booked online. But what begins as a celebratory weekend for the four close friends turns into something far more sinister as secrets they’ve kept from each other are exposed, and they realize they may not be alone.
Ramona Films’ Elizabeth Haggard and Dave Franco and Black Bear’s Ben Stillman and Teddy Schwarzman are producing alongside Swanberg and Chris Storer. Black Bear’s Michael Heimler is executive producing alongside Sean Durkin. The film is currently in post-production.
“Continuing our incredibly successful relationship with Black Bear, we are excited to bring this original and fun thriller to our international partners,” said John Friedberg, President of STXinternational. “With creative and imaginative talent both in front of and behind the camera, The Rental is a high concept twist on a classic genre that is sure to surprise and entertain audiences around the world.”
“We are thrilled to partner with our friends at STXinternational to give buyers a taste of Dave Franco’s chilling directorial debut,” said Black Bear’s President & CEO Teddy Schwarzman. “Anchored by an exceptional cast led by Dan Stevens and Alison Brie, The Rental looks at how vulnerable we really are after we click “Book Now.” There are nearly a billion online rentals booked every year and this film taps into the terrifying reality that you never know what you get until it’s too late.”
The Rental marks the next project in the collaboration between STXinternational and Black Bear, having previously partnered on the TIFF 2019 Official Selection The Friend and upcoming titles The Marsh King’s Daughter and J Blakeson’s I Care A Lot.
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About STXinternational
STXinternational is a division of STX Entertainment, a global, next-generation media company whose mission is to unlock the value of the direct connection stars have with their fans through the development, financing, production, marketing and distribution of film, television, digital video, music and live entertainment content. It is the industry leader in transforming beyond traditional platform-driven content to creating talent-driven enterprises.
About Black Bear Pictures
Black Bear Pictures is a boutique media company that develops, produces and finances original and engaging content for film and television. Since its 2011 launch, Black Bear’s slate has grossed over $325,000,000 worldwide, been nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, nine Golden Globes and ten BAFTAS, and premiered at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Sundance, Venice, Telluride, Toronto, New York, and London.
Black Bear has produced a range of content, including The Imitation Game, Academy Award winner for Best Adapted Screenplay and nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture; All Is Lost, directed by J.C. Chandor, which won the Golden Globe for Original Score and earned Robert Redford a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor; Suburbicon, directed by George Clooney and starring Matt Damon, Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac; Gold, starring Matthew McConaughey, and nominated for one Golden Globe; and Dee Rees’ Mudbound, starring Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Carey Mulligan, and Mary J. Blige, which garnered four Academy Award nominations.
Black Bear’s recent films include Academy Award nominee Peter Hedges’ Ben Is Back, starring Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges, The Friend, starring Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson & Casey Affleck and directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite; Dave Franco’s directorial debut, The Rental, starring Allison Brie, Dan Stevens, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White; and J Blakeson’s thriller I Care A Lot, starring Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza Gonzalez, Chris Messina, Scoot McNairy and Dianne Wiest.
In addition, Black Bear helped form and is a major investor in Elevation Pictures Corp, the leading independent film and TV distribution company in Canada.
For more information, please visit http://www.stxentertainment.com.
05.11.2019 | American Film Market Dailies's blog
Cat. : FILM