The Orchard announced tonight that the company has acquired all North American distribution rights to Brett Haley’s drama “The Hero” starring Sam Elliott.
The film, which premiered Saturday in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, also stars Laura Prepon, Nick Offerman, Krysten Ritter and Katharine Ross.
Written by Haley and Mark Basch, the film was produced by Houston King, Sam Bisbee and Erik Rommesmo.
The production companies are Northern Lights Films, Park Pictures and Houston King Productions. The Orchard plans a wide release for the film this fall.
In “The Hero,” Sam Elliott plays Lee Hayden, an aging Western film star forced to face his own mortality as he confronts a cancer diagnosis.
The deal was negotiated by Danielle DiGiacomo, vice president of acquisitions for The Orchard with WME and Gersh on behalf of the filmmakers.
This is the second acquisition of the festival for The Orchard, who announced a deal on Friday for all North American rights to “Trophy” (CNN is handling broadcast).