Music Box Films has acquired all U.S. rights (excluding TV) to Nadav Schirman’s spy thriller “The Green Prince,” it was announced Wednesday by Submarine and Global Screen.
Music Box Films will release the documentary theatrically later this year so the “The Green Prince will qualify for Academy Award consideration.
“The Green Prince” is a real-life thriller that tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, the son of a top Hamas leader. Under the code name “The Green Prince,” Mosab Hassan Youssef becomes disenchanted by the practices of Hamas as a young man and decides to spy for Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service. Focusing on his complex relationship with his handler, Gonen, this is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, impossible choices – and of a friendship that defies all boundaries.
Also read: Sundance Winning Documentary ‘The Green Prince’ to Be Adapted as Feature Film
Set against a backdrop of recent events in the Middle East, “The Green Prince” is a multi-layered psychological thriller that will challenge people’s preconceptions of the ongoing conflict in the region by combining exclusive first person testimony, dramatic action sequences and never-before-seen archival footage.
“The Green Prince” is a German, Israeli, and British co-production that director Schirman produced with John Battsek and Simon Chinn. The film was executive produced by Thomas Weymar, Sheryl Crown and Maggie Monteith, while Omri Uzrad and Britta Meyermann served as co-producers.
“We were thrilled by the audience’s response at Sundance so it’s hugely exciting to be working with such seasoned distribution partners as Music Box Films to bring the film to American cinemagoers,” said Schirman.
Also read: ‘Pretty Woman,’ ‘Fight Club’ Producer Arnon Milchan: I Was an Israeli Spy
“We’re excited to be working with director Nadav Schirman and his producing team of John Battsek and Simon Chinn to bring this truly remarkable film to U.S. audiences. It’s an edge-of-your-seat espionage thriller, a tale of an unlikely friendship that unfolds between adversaries and an incredible story of a young man’s courageous personal, political and spiritual transformation,” Music Box Films’ managing director Ed Arentz and president William Schopf said in a joint statement.
Julia Weber of Global Screen stated, “‘The Green Prince’ is a crowd-pleaser. Its story is a wonderful example of humanity in today’s world. The outstanding and the extremely positive reactions at the Sundance Film Festival have proven that it will take the audiences by storm. We look forward to continue our long-term relationship with Music Box Films and we are confident that they will release the film successfully in the US market,” added Julia Weber of Global Screen.
The U.S. deal was negotiated by Josh Braun & David Koh of Submarine on behalf of Global Screen; and Music Box Films’ Ed Arentz and Schopf.
Negotiations for distribution in foreign territories are currently taking place, though deals have closed for the UK (Curzon) and Australia & New Zealand (Madman Entertainment). “The Green Prince” is being sold internationally by Global Screen, while Submarine represents the film in North America.