[Updated 1:10 p.m.]
Relativity Media has acquired U.S. rights to Bryan Buckler’s directorial debut “The Bronze,” a raunchy comedy that had audiences talking after debuting as the opening night film at Sundance on Thursday, the studio announced Saturday.
There were several bidders in the mix and Netflix actually made the highest offer by far, but at the end of the day, the filmmakers wanted a proper theatrical release, according to an individual with knowledge of the negotiations.
“The Bronze” follows a bitter gymnast (Melissa Rauch) trying to hang onto glory years after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics, and according to TheWrap’s Steve Pond, the film “features an acrobatic hotel-room liason so over-the-top that it’ll no doubt give the ratings board fits, but it kept the audience at the Eccles Theater in hysterics.”
The film is the brainchild of married couple Melissa Rauch and Winston Rauch, who wanted to write a film role that Melissa could play. Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch, Haley Lu Richardson, Cecily Strong and Sebastian Stan also star.
“The Bronze” was produced by Stephanie Langhoff (“The Skeleton Twins”) and executive produced by Melissa Rauch, Winston Rauch, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Ryan Buckley, Michael C. Cuddy and Matt Lefebvre.
Stage 6 Films will handle international distribution and WME negotiated the deal.