Sony Pictures Classics and Pedro Almodóvar are cinematic peanut butter and jelly, a union that is never wrong and has been fruitful for many, many years. So no duh, the arthouse shingle has once again teamed up with the helmer to distribute his next film, "I'm So Excited." No word yet if the Pointer Sisters will be on the soundtrack.
The film, previously known as "Standby Lovers" or "The Brief Lovers," features an ensemble cast of faces new and old, including Javier Cámara, Cecilia Roth, Lola Dueñas, Raul Arévalo, Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Hugo Silva, Willy Toledo, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Blanca Suárez, José Luis Torrijo, José María Yazpik, and Laya Martí with special collaborations (ie. cameos) from Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega. Said to be a comedy in the vein of Almodóvar's early films, plot details are under wraps, but it's said to be a comedy set against a plane accident with various characters fearing for the lives and confessing their inner secrets. SPC has slated the film for a summer release in 2013, and we reckon this means Almodóvar will once again hit Cannes to premiere the film first. Production kicks off in July.
In other acquistion news: Deadline reports that the pretty awful-looking "The Baytown Outlaws" (renamed from the much sissier "The Baytown Disco") starring Billy Bob Thornton and Eva Longoria has been picked up by Phase 4 Films for an early 2013 release. Meanwhile, the site also reveals that "Glee" star Chris Colfer's writing and producing debut, "Struck By Lightning," has been acquired by Tribeca Films (fitting since it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival) for a late 2012 bow with day-and-date VOD and theatrical.