Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios has acquired the North American rights to director John Curran’s “Chappaquidick,” a fact-based drama about the 1969 fatal car accident involving future U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy.
ES made a $20 million commitment to the film, includig $4 million for the movie rights and $16 million in P&A, an individual close to the production told TheWrap.
The film, which is set to premiere Sunday at the Toronto Film Festival, stars Jason Clarke as Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne, the woman who died in the accident. Bruce Dern, Ed Helms, Jim Gaffigan and Olivia Thirlby also star.