The new buyer is closing on possibly the biggest buy of Toronto as it swooped on world rights ahead of what Screen International understands will be an offload of international rights to a studio.

Hardcore

STX, launched by Robert Simonds with an expensive executive suite and one solid release to its name so far (The Gift), is reportedly paying $10m for Hardcore, which is roughly what Paramount spent earlier in the festival for Florence Foster Jenkins.

Screen International has learned the company is considering a $20m P&A spend for a wide release to Ilya Naishuller’s Midnight Madness first-person shooter.

STX is talking to studios for international rights despite recently launching its international sales division headed by John Friedberg.

The story is told from the perspective of a newly awakened cyborg on the trail of his wife’s kidnappers in a violent Moscow. Timur Bekmambetov produces and the cast includes Sharlto Copley and Haley Bennett.

STX is negotiating the Hardcore deal with WME Global.