Joshua Leonard’s dark comedy launched at Sundance and will get a limited theatrical and simultaneous VoD launch in autumn.

The Lie is based on a short story by TC Boyle that first appeared in the New Yorker about a man who undergoes a life-changing episode when he tells a falsehood to get out of work.

Leonard stars alongside Jess Weixler and Mark Webber. Mary Pat Bentel produced and Siriam Das and Mitchell Goldman of Das Films served as executive producers.

Robert Baruc and Suzanne Blech negotiated the acquisition on behalf of Screen Media with Rena Ronson and Bec Smith at UTA.