Paul Dano’s directorial debut “Wildlife” has been acquired by IFC Films for its U.S. and Canadian rights, the distributor announced Monday.
The Sundance premiere stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, Bill Camp and Ed Oxenbould. Gyllenhaal also produced.
“Wildlife” was adapted for the screen by Dano and Zoe Kazan from Richard Ford’s acclaimed novel. The film was produced by Alex Saks of June Pictures, Dano, Oren Moverman of Sight Unseen Pictures, Ann Ruark and Nine Stories’ Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker, with Zoe Kazan, Ted Deiker and Eddie Vaisman serving as executive producers.
IFC Films is planning a fall theatrical release and a 2018 awards campaign for the film that had its premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival last month. The movie tells the story of a boy who watches his parents’ marriage crumble after his mother falls in love with another man.
“For as long as I have wanted to make films, I have known I would make films about family,” said Dano in a statement. “To have brought together a creative family in the making of ‘Wildlife’ has been one of the great joys of my life. And now to extend that family further and collaborate with IFC, whose voice as a distributor has been vital to so many filmmakers I love all over the world, is an honor.”
Jonathan Sehring and Lisa Schwartz, co-presidents of IFC Films, added, “We have long admired Paul Dano’s remarkable career as an actor, having had the privilege of working with him on ‘The Ballad of Jack and Rose.’ We are thrilled to present his directorial debut as it is so deft and self assured. It is almost unfathomable to think that this is his first film behind the camera as the result is nothing short of remarkable. From the amazing performances he was able to capture from Carey Mulligan, Ed Oxenbould, Bill Camp, and Jake Gyllenhaal to Paul and Zoe’s moving and nuanced screenplay, ‘Wildlife’ is a stunning debut film that will leave an indelible effect on audiences.”
The deal was handled by Arianna Bocco, executive vice president of acquisitions and production, for IFC Films with Endeavor Content on behalf of the filmmakers. Film Nation is handling international sales for the film.