Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) has acquired North America, English-speaking rights and select territories to the thriller starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Ansel Elgort. Lotus will commence pre-sales on remaining territories at the EFM next week.

Sacha Gervasi will direct November Criminals from a screenplay by Steven Knight about two teenagers who fall in love as they investigate a friend’s murder in the seedy underbelly of Washington.

Catherine Keener will also join the production, scheduled to begin on March 16. Elgort (pictured) comes fresh off global smash The Fault In Our Stars and will next be seen in Insurgent in March.

Lotus Entertainment’s Ara Keshishian along with SPWA evp Joe Matukewicz will oversee production.

Beth O’Neil and Erika Olde of Black Bicycle Entertainment will produce and Black Bicycle co-finances with Lotus.

The film’s joint US representatives CAA and WME Global brokered the deal with Bill Johnson for Lotus Entertainment and SPWA’s Michael Helfand, Matukewicz and Jon Freedberg.