'The Testament Of Ann Lee'

Source: Venice

‘The Testament Of Ann Lee’

Searchlight Pictures has scheduled a December 25 limited release in 70mm for its new acquisition of Mona Fastvold’s Venice world premiere The Testament Of Ann Lee.

Amanda Seyfried stars in the musical drama as the titular head of the 18th century Shaker movement, who was proclaimed the female Jesus Christ by her followers. Lee emigrated from England to New York state and established a US-set utopia based on equality, communal living, and celibacy. The Quaker offshoot also revelled in song and dance.

The cast includes Thomas McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Tim Blake Nelson, and Christopher Abbott. Fastvold co-wrote the screenplay with her partner Brady Corbet and they are among the producers on the feature from Kaplan Morrison, Intake Films, and Proton Cinema.

The Testament Of Ann Lee recently received its North American premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and is scheduled to play a host of late-year festivals including Zurich, London, and AFI Fest.

Searchlight announced the acquisition this week and reportedly paid mid to high seven figures for North America and most international territories.

The biopic bulks up an awards season slate that features the imminent New York Film Festival world premiere Is This Thing On? directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern as a separating couple where the man pivots to a career in stand-up comedy; and Hikari’s recent TIFF world premiere Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser as professional stand-in for strangers.

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