We’ve been tracking all news pertaining to “The Wrestler” for a while now, ever since its unbelievably positive response at Venice which led to a frenzy of a buyers market at Toronto. The latest news, as opposed to pesky rumours, is that the ever dependable Fox Searchlight came out on top of the first major bidding war at TIFF and have secured the U.S. rights to the lucrative film for about $ 4 million. The film, financed by Wild Bunch who believed in the film and Mickey Rourke from day one, caused the Four Seasons hotel’s transformation into a fighting ring with the fastest, overwrought bidders (including Lionsgate, Overture, Weinstein Co. and Sony besides Searchlight) stepping in, taking off their gloves and laying out their respective plans for the film with the hopes of securing what seems to be one of the year’s more exciting titles, of which an intense Oscar campaign for Rourke’s lauded performance is integral. A late, Oscar qualifying run at the end of the year is expected, with a wider rollout in January.
It was only a matter of time before Aronofsky’s latest got a secure deal and if Fox Searchlight can continue their positive support of indie-minded films like they have in previous years (for “Juno,” “The Savages,” “Notes on a Scandal” or “Little Miss Sunshine” to name a few), consider “The Wrestler” right in the thick of things in terms of awards prospects this year. It’s always good to hear about solid films getting solid deals, as opposed to all the trash that the studios never seem to miss the chance to support. [Variety]
This post is courtesy of our friends at Fataculture.