Amazon Studios has acquired the U.S. rights to “Landline,” a comedy starring Jenny Slate set in the 1990s, TheWrap has learned. The deal was in the mid-seven figure range, and the film will get a traditional theatrical release.
The film follows two sisters, magazine layout artist Dana (Slate) and high school club kid Ali (Abby Quinn, in a breakout performance), who act out in various — and hilarious — ways in pre-cell phone New York. Edie Falco, John Turturro, Finn Wittrock and Jay Duplass also feature in the movie.
“Landline” is helmed by Gillian Robespierre, who also directed Slate in “Obvious Child.” Robespierre and Elisabeth Holm wrote the screenplay, which is based on a story by Holm, Robespierre and Tom Bean.
Slate and Robespierre served as executive producers, along with Rachel Shane, Natalya Petrosova, Lee Jea Woo, Chris Lytton and Charlotte Ubben. The film was produced by Elisabeth Holm, Gigi Pritzker and Russell Levine. Route One Entertainment and OddLot Entertianment, a division of Madison Wells Media who received 4 Oscar nominations today for “Hell or High Water,” were the production companies. The film was shot on location in New York City.
UTA Independent Film Group and Clint Kisker of Madison Wells Media brokered the deal, while Nick Meyer at Sierra/Affinity is selling foreign rights.
“Landline” had its world premiere on Jan. 20, screening in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the Sundance Film Festival, where it opened to mostly positive reviews.
The film is Amazon’s second big deal of the festival, after the streaming giant acquired U.S. rights to “The Big Sick,” based on the real-life courtship between star and writer Kumail Nanjiani and co-writer Emily V. Gordon, for $12 million.