Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquistions has taken on the film starring Robert Pattinson and Uma Thurman.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) has taken north American rights from sales company Protagonist Pictures to Bel Ami, starring Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci.

The deal was negotiated by Michael Helfand, EVP of Business Affairs, and Tana Evans, VP of Acquisitions and Distribution for SPWA with Protagonist CEO Ben Roberts.

The international rollout of the film will start in February 2012.

Protagonist has widely sold the film, which was shot in early 2010. StudioCanal has the UK, Germany and France, while RaiCinema will handle the film in Italy. Hopscotch have taken Australia, Independent has Benelux, Impuls has Switzerland, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Golden Scene for Hong Kong/Macau, Unikorea Culture and Art for South Korea, SSG for Taiwan, Central Partnership for CIS, Ablo for Eastern Europe, Ozen Film for Turkey, Lusomundo for Portugal, Front Row for the Middle East, California Filmes for Latin America, PVR for India, PT Amero for Indonesia, Pioneer for the Philippines, Nu Metro for South Africa, Passion Encore for Singapore and Hollywood Entertainment for Greece and Cyprus.

Uberto Pasolini produced with Simon Fuller as executive producer.

The screenplay was written by Rachel Bennette from the novel by Guy de Maupassant, and the film was directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod.

Pattinson plays a social-climbing playboy in 1890s Paris.

Bel Ami is a Red Wave Films production in association with XIX Film, Protagonist Pictures and RaiCinema.