Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions are teaming up to acquire and release J.C. Chandor's thriller "Margin Call," the companies announced on Sunday.
The deal was about $1 million to acquire the film, according to an insider in the deal.
UTA's Cassian Elwes and Rena Ronson were up all night negotiating the deal on behalf of the "Margin Call" producers, who include Benaroya Pictures' Michael Benaroya and Robert Ogden Barnum, Before the Door Pictures' Zachary Quinto, Neal Dodson and Corey Moosa, as well as Joe Jenckes. Elwes executive produced the film along with Laura Rister, Randy Manis and Joshua Blum.
Steve Beeks and Howard Cohen negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, respectively. IFC and Magnolia both made significant offers as well.
Lionsgate and Roadside plan to release the film in theaters later this year.
The film, which tracks a tumultuous 24-hour period at an investment firm during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis, stars Oscar winners Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons, as well as Quinto, Paul Bettany, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci and Mary McDonnell.
Myriad Pictures represents international rights on the project.
Here is the full press release:
ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS AND LIONSGATE PLACE A MARGIN CALL
Benaroya Pictures, Before the Door
Close One of the First Major Deals
During the 2011 Sundance Film Festival
Park City, UT (January 23, 2011)- Steve Beeks of Lionsgate and Howard Cohen of Roadside Attractions jointly announced today that the companies have partnered to acquire and release J.C. Chandor's thriller, MARGIN CALL. Following all night negotiations, the deal was negotiated by Cassian Elwes and Rena Ronson of UTA on behalf of MARGIN CALL producers. Howard Cohen negotiated on behalf of Roadside and Steve Beeks on behalf of Lionsgate. The film's world premiere is Tuesday night at the Eccles Theater, and a 2011 theatrical release is planned.
MARGIN CALL stars a stellar ensemble cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci. The film was written and directed by Chandor and produced by Michael Benaroya and Barnum of Benaroya Pictures, and Quinto, Dodson, and Corey Moosa of Before the Door Pictures and Joe Jenckes. Elwes, Laura Rister, Randy Manis, and Joshua Blum are executive producers. Myriad Pictures represents international rights on the project.
Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, Margin Call is a thriller entangling the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When entry-level analyst Peter Sullivan (Quinto) unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster. Expanding the parameters of genre, MARGIN CALL is a riveting examination of the human components of a subject too often relegated to partisan issues of black and white. Chandor's enthralling first feature is a stark and bravely authentic portrayal of the financial industry and its denizens as they confront the decisions that shape our global future.
