New York, NY, February 7, 2012 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that its new label, Radius-TWC, has acquired from Strategic Motion Ventures the North American distribution rights to the comedy BACHELORETTE, the debut feature from writer/director Leslye Headland. Adapted by Headland from her acclaimed stage play of the same name, BACHELORETTE had its world premiere in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Premieres section. The film is the first to be acquired in the open marketplace by Radius-TWC, which was created in fall 2011 to bring new films and other specialty entertainment to audiences simultaneously across multiple platforms. The announcement was made by Radius-TWC Co-Presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego.
A raucous comedy about a group of friends who bring decidedly mixed feelings to the task of planning a wedding, BACHELORETTE stars Kirsten Dunst (MELANCHOLIA), Isla Fisher (CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC), Lizzy Caplan (“New Girl”), James Marsden (ENCHANTED), Kyle Bornheimer (SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE), Rebel Wilson (BRIDESMAIDS) and Adam Scott (OUR IDIOT BROTHER). The producers are Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum for Gary Sanchez Productions; and Brice Dal Farra, Claude Dal Farra and Lauren Munsch for BCDF Pictures. The executive producers are Gary Sanchez Productions’ Chris Henchy and BCDF Pictures’ Paul Prokop. The announcement was made by Radius-TWC Co-Presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego.
Commented Quinn and Janego, “Leslye has crafted a raging, stiletto-sharp comedy populated with an indelible cast of real characters. BACHELORETTE boldly goes to places BRIDESMAIDS and HANGOVER dare not. This is destined to be one of the most talked about films of the year and we can’t think of a more fitting film for our new label.”
In a joint statement, BCDF & Gary Sanchez Productions, stated “We are excited to have the passion of Harvey and the Radius/TWC team of Tom Quinn & Jason Janego behind the fresh talent of Leslye Headland & her ground breaking film Bachelorette. They are the perfect team to partner with on this picture and we are thrilled to be in collaboration. Their vision & expertise will broadly carry this picture to American audiences.”
The deal was negotiated for Radius-TWC by Quinn and Janego and by CAA on behalf of the filmmakers.
– Official Press Release, via Deadline.com
North American rights to the comedy Bachelorette, which premiered Jan. 23 at the Sundance Film Festival, have been acquired by Radius, the new label launched by The Weinstein Co. late last year, in a deal valued at more than $2 million.
The film stars Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden, Kyle Bornheimer, Rebel Wilson and Adam Scott; it centers on a hedonistic bachelorette party.
Bachelorette is the debut feature from writer/director Leslye Headland, who adapted the film from her stage play of the same name.
Radius, which will focus on the VOD space, was created to bring new films and other specialty entertainment to audiences simultaneously across multiple platforms. The label is run by co-presidents Jason Janego and Tom Quinn, former executives at Magnolia Pictures, which is known for its pre-theatrical Ultra VOD program.
The Bachelorette producers are Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum for Gary Sanchez Productions; and Brice Dal Farra, Claude Dal Farra and Lauren Munsch for BCDF Pictures.
The executive producers are Gary Sanchez’s Chris Henchy and BCDF’s Paul Prokop.
The deal was negotiated for Radius by Quinn and Janego and by CAA on behalf of the filmmakers.
Sundance 2012: ‘Bachelorette’ finds small-screen home
Leslye Headland’s “Bachelorette,” the film that went into this year’s Sundance Film Festival with the most deafening advance buzz, finally has a deal. It will be released simultaneously on video-on-demand and (probably a handful of) theaters by The Weinstein company’s new Radius/TWC label. No date was announced in yesterdays’ press release, but the Hollywood Reporter says the deal was for around $2 million.
A bidding war was anticipated before the film’s debut based on its similar plot to the breakout hit “Bridesmaids” and a cast headed by Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan. But the film was deemed a disappointment when it finally premiered at Sundance, with critics and acquisition excecutives complaining the actresses’ promiscuous, boozing, coke-snorting and self-loathing bad girls were far harder to like than the party-hearty heroines in “Bridesmaids.” And that even with a happy-ish ending that Headland tacked onto her off-Broadway play, “Bachelorette” was too dark and mean-spirited to cross over into the mainstream. (Here’s what I wrote at the time). All big excitement that day was about “Surrogate,” snapped up in hours by Fox Searchlight for around $4 million.
Debuting director Headland, by the way, was once one of Harvey Weinstein’s assistants. There’s lots of gushing in the press release, but don’t you think the producers — who include Will Ferrell — and stars (Dunst, who was snubbed by Oscar, can’t seem to catch a break) aren’t really disappointed their baby will mostly be watched at home.