Bloom has launched sales on Paul Weitz’s adaptation of Ann Patchett’s bestselling novel.

 Julianne Moore

Bloom has launched international sales here at Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 8-18) on Paul Weitz’s adaptation of Bel Canto, which will star Julianne Moore, Ken Watanabe and Demián Bichir.

Weitz adapted the screenplay with Anthony Weintraub from Ann Patchett’s romantic bestseller about relationships that ensue amid a hostage crisis in a South American dictatorship.

WME Global represents US rights. A-Line Pictures’ Caroline Baron and Weintraub produce alongside Weitz and his Depth Of Field partner Andrew Miano. 

The love story will star Moore as a famous American soprano who travels to a South American country to give a private recital at the birthday party of rich Japanese industrialist, played by Watanabe.

As the gathering assembles, guerrillas led by General Benjamin storm the house and demand the release of imprisoned comrades.

In the ensuing month-long impasse, hostages and captors must overcome their differences and find their shared humanity in the face of impending disaster.

“I read the Bel Canto novel many years ago and have always believed it would translate naturally to the big screen,” said Bloom’s Alex Walton.

“The book has a large loyal global fan base which I am confident will be delighted to see our wonderful cast bring this story to life.”

Weitz earned recent acclaim for Amazon Studios’ Golden Globe-winning TV production Mozart In The Jungle.

Moore will next star in Wonderstruck from Todd Haynes, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and George Clooney’s Suburbicon - which Bloom also sells internationally.

Watanabe can next be seen in Transformers: The Last Knight, while Bichir just wrapped Ridley Scott’s Aliens: Covenant.