Focus Features has snapped up North American rights from StudioCanal to the action thriller Bastille Day starring Idris Elba and Adèle Exarchopoulos.

James Watkins will direct from a script by Andrew Baldwin. Vendome Pictures’ Philippe Rousselet produces with Steve Golin, David Kanter and Bard Dorros for Anonymous Content.

A summer shoot is planned for the story of a rogue CIA agent in Paris who teams up with a con artist to thwart a terror attack.

Financier and sales agent StudioCanal will distribute directly in France, the UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

“We are all excited to be working with James, these accomplished producers, and the incomparable Idris Elba on what will surely be a thrill ride set in Paris, one of the greatest cities in the world,” said Focus Features CEO Peter Schlessel.

“We are all thrilled to have Focus Features distribute our film,” said Rousselet. “We could not have dreamed of a better home for it and we look forward to collaborating with Peter and his fantastic team.”

“Anonymous Content has always had a great working relationship with Focus Features, and we have long admired Peter,” said Dorros and Kanter. “We’re thrilled to be in business with him as we now have a perfect partner to distribute this film.”

“We are delighted to have found the perfect domestic home for Bastille Day with StudioCanal chairman and CEO Olivier  Courson. “Together with Philippe Rousselet at Vendome, we look forward to making a high quality action-packed thriller for the world to enjoy.”

Focus evp of business affairs Beth Lemberger brokered the deal with StudioCanal head of international sales Anna Marsh.

Topics