New World Films in Spain, Nordisk in Scandinavia and Les Films De L'Elysee in Benelux are among the buyers which have committed to Alliance Atlantis Pictures International's $25m action comedy The 51st State starring Samuel L Jackson.

Momentum Pictures has UK rights and Kinowelt has German rights. Other buyers which have taken the film include Distant Horizon in South Africa, Spring Cinema in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, Shaw Renters in Singapore, Myndform in Iceland and Forum Films in Israel. Ronny Yu is directing from a script by first-timer Stel Pavlou. Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer and Rhys Ifans also star.