Sony Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to BRON Studios’ The Front Runner directed by Jason Reitman and starring Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga and J.K. Simmons.
The studio plans an autumn release in the awards season corridor timed to coincide with the mid-term US elections.
The Front Runner chronicles the rise and fall of former Democratic frontrunner Gary Hart, who was considered a shoo-in for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination when his campaign was derailed by his affair with Donna Rice.
The film also stars Mamoudou Athie, Josh Brener, Kaitlyn Dever, Tommy Dewey, Molly Ephraim, Spencer Garrett, Ari Graynor, Toby Huss, Mike Judge, Alex Karpovsky, Mark O’Brien, Sara Paxton, Kevin Pollak, and Steve Zissishe.
Veteran political journalist Matt Bai, former Hillary Clinton press secretary Jay Carson, and Reitman adapted the screenplay based on Bai’s 2014 book All the Truth Is Out.
Reitman and Helen Estabrook produced through their Right of Way Films in partnership with BRON Studios’ Gilbert, who are backed by Creative Wealth Media.
Reitman said, “Having grown up wandering around the Columbia lot as a kid, it is a particular thrill to bring The Front Runner back home to the first studio I can remember. I cannot wait for movie goers to see Hugh’s humanist transformation into one of the more complicated political figures of our time.”
BRON president and CEO Aaron L. Gilbert said, “This often overlooked moment points to the intersection where political journalism and gossip journalism drove into the same lane, and it couldn’t be more timely. We are so proud of this film and the work we’ve been able to do with our partners Jason and Helen.”
Josh Greenstein, president, worldwide marketing and distribution for Sony Pictures, who helped bring the project in to the studio and previously handled Reitman’s biggest hit Up In The Air at Paramount, said, “It is great to be working with Jason again, and this material is right in his wheelhouse. Hugh Jackman is transformative in this role.”
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions’ (SPWA) senior vice-president of content strategy and SPWA co-head Michael Helfand negotiated the deal on behalf of Sony, with BRON’s Anjay Nagpal and Matthew Erramouspe of O’Melveny. Endeavor Content and Bloom handled the worldwide sale.
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