ThinkFilm, who ponied up big money ($2 million) for
Helen Hunt‘s
Then She Found Me
early on in the Toronto bidding wars, has closed
the festival with the purchase of another actor-turned-director film,
Stuart
Townsend‘s Battle in Seattle,
for $2 million.
"We started the festival with the biggest sale, and we
ended the festival with the biggest sale," said Mark Urman, head of ThinkFilm’s
theatrical unit. "It’s been a wonderful Toronto for ThinkFilm."
Battle in Seattle stars
Charlize Theron, who is caught up
in the riots and violence that surrounded the World Trade Organization’s 1999
meeting in Seattle.
The Weinstein Company has purchased the theatrical and
video rights to
Joy Division,
Grant Gee‘s documentary about the rise and
demise of the legendary post-punk band. At Cannes in May, the Weinsteins gained
Control —
Anton Corbijn‘s film about Joy Division singer Ian Curtis — and
we’re sure cross-promotional fantasies and DVD packages are already dancing
around in their heads. We doubt love will be tearing these two apart.
And, finally, the comedy/drama Bill has been
purchased by First Look Pictures for $3 million, the largest sale of the fest
yet. The film stars
Aaron Eckhart as a husband who finds out his wife is
cheating on him and hesitantly mentors a teenage girl.
Jessica Alba co-stars as
a lingerie salesgirl.
"Bill has a solid cast and a bold, funny script,"
said First Look’s Gary Hirsch. "Eckhart was fantastic in
No Reservations
and Thank You for Smoking, and Bill has the same comedic
sensibility. Jessica Alba is box office gold with hits like the
Fantastic
Four films and Sin City. She is talented, beautiful and makes a great
co-star."
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
