Fox Searchlight has won a Sundance bidding war for worldwide rights to Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s young adult tearjerker “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” and will release it later this year, the company said Monday.
“Project X’s” Thomas Mann stars as Greg Gaines, an awkward, self-deprecating high school student with a single friend, Earl (RJ Cyler). Both of their lives change when Greg’s mother forces him to befriend Rachel (Olivia Cooke), a classmate who’s been diagnosed with leukemia. Nick Offerman, Molly Shannon, Jon Bernthal and Connie Britton co-star.
Indian Paintbrush’s Steven Rales produced the Jesse Andrews-scripted film with Dan Fogelman and Jeremy Dawson, while Nora Skinner served as executive producer.
“We are so thrilled to be a part of this film,” said Fox Searchlight presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula. “The movie completely floored us and stole our hearts. The response at the festival has been extraordinary. The performances are honest and relatable and the film is smart, funny and original.”
After the huge success of “The Fault In Our Stars,” also released by Fox, it’s no wonder that many distributors were interested in the film, which premiered on Sunday to a standing ovation.
While the deal was initially rumored to be for $12 million, an individual with knowledge of the negotiations told TheWrap that Fox Searchlight’s investment represents a portion of the cost of the film and is actually in the mid-seven figures, as the deal isn’t a straight acquisition but rather a partnership with Indian Paintbrush.
WME negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers, though representatives for the agency did not respond to multiple requests for comment.