Bleecker Street Films and LD Entertainment have acquired the U.S. rights to Anton Corbijn’s latest film, “A Talent For Murder,” which stars Oscar-, Emmy- and Tony winner Helen Mirren as celebrated novelist Patricia Highsmith (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”).
In the twisty thriller, Alden Ehrenreich (“Weapons,” “Oppenheimer” and a newly minted Tony winner for “Becky Shaw”) plays a callow young literary agent from New York who is sent to Switzerland to persuade Highsmith to write one final installment of the Ripley anthology. “House of the Dragon” star Olivia Cooke rounds out the lead trio.
Corbijn (“The American,” “A Most Wanted Man”) directs the film, based on the 2014 play “Switzerland” by prolific Australian playwright, screenwriter and novelist Joanna Murray-Smith, who adapted it for the screen. “A Talent For Murder” will be relased theatrically this fall.
“We are thrilled to be reuniting once again with LD, as well as the great Helen Mirren, to release Corbijn’s captivating ode to not only Highsmith’s lively spirit, but her riveting work itself,” said Bleecker Street CEO Kent Sanderson in a press release announcing the acquisition.
“’A Talent For Murder’ is exactly the kind of project we love making at LD. Anton Corbijn brings a fresh take to Patricia Highsmith’s world, and Helen Mirren, Alden Ehrenreich, and Olivia Cooke deliver incredible performances,” said LD Entertainment’s Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon, who serve as producers on the film alongside Magnolia Mae Films’ Gabrielle Tana. The duo adds: “We’re proud to continue our longtime partnership with Bleecker Street and excited to bring the film to audiences nationwide this fall.”
“A Talent For Murder” is the latest in a series of collaborations between Bleecker and LD Entertainment, following “Bone Lake,” “I.S.S.,” “Teen Spirit,” “Megan Leavey” and “Anthropoid,” as well as the upcoming live theater capture of the Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown,” set for theatrical release on July 24.
Brouhaha’s Troy Lum and Andrew Mason; Jim Robison and Kurt Martin (Lunar Pictures); Carolyn Marks Blackwood (Magnolia Mae); Karl Spoerri (Switzerland’s Zurich Avenue); and Andrea Occhipinti (Italy’s Lucky Red) also produce. The movie was financed by Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology and LD Entertainment.
The deal was negotiated by Avy Eschenasy for Bleecker Street, with LD’s Michael Glassman and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers. FilmNation Entertainment is handling international sales.