EXCLUSIVE: Vertigo and Universal to release provocative Venice competition entry in UK.

Vertigo and Universal Pictures (UK) - the UK home entertainment division of Universal Pictures International Entertainment - have struck a deal for joint-UK rights to Harmony Korine’s buzzed-about Venice competition entry Spring Breakers.

Vertigo will handle the theatrical release from April 5, with Universal on board for home entertainment distribution.

Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Rachel Korine, Ashley Benson and James Franco star in Korine’s whirlwind crime-comedy about a group of impressionable girls who fall under the spell of a rapper who promises them a spring break they will never forget.

Vertigo Film’s Rupert Preston commented: “We are thrilled to be working with Universal Pictures UK on one of the most exciting releases of 2013. Harmony Korine has created a bold, fresh and exciting film and we could not be happier to welcome it to our upcoming slate.”

Universal Pictures UK head of local film acquisitions Richard Thompson added: “Spring Breakers is already one of the most anticipated and talked about films of 2013 – all of us at Universal Pictures (UK) are tremendously excited at the prospect of working on the film with Rupert and the team at Vertigo Films.”