Jessica Chastain’s “Molly’s Game” sells to int’l territories

PanARMENIAN.Net - Sierra/Affinity has sold out international territories for “Molly’s Game”, less than a month after the project came together with Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain in Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut.

Chastain is playing the lead role, based on the memoir by Molly Bloom, who wound up running the most exclusive high-stakes poker game in the world for eight years. Sorkin is also penning the script.

Mark Gordon will produce with Amy Pascal. Entertainment One and The Mark Gordon Company are financing. Sales, which launched at the Cannes Film Festival, included eOne for Canada, UK, Australia/New Zealand, Benelux and Spain; Kino Films for Japan; Main Title for South Korea; Rai Cinemas for Italy, Scanbox for Scandinavia; SND Groupe M6 for France and Square One for Germany.

STX Entertainment acquired US rights to “Molly’s Game” for $9 million during Cannes.

Sierra/Affinity said the sales success reinforces its growth strategy of partnering with eOne to give it continued access to high-profile films as well as expanded production and financing capabilities.

Entertainment One acquired a 51% stake in The Mark Gordon Company earlier this year in a deal valued at more than $130 million, then invested in Sierra Pictures two days later.

Other movies that it sold out at Cannes included “Tully,” the reteaming of Charlize Theron with director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody; “Anon” from writer/director Andrew Niccol and studio K5 Media Group; “Above Suspicion” from director Phillip Noyce; writer/director Ron Shelton’s “Villa Spari” from eOne and Endurance Media which will be distributed in the U.S. by Broad Green; and “Stan & Ollie,” starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, financed by eOne and BBC Films.

“As today’s film marketplace continues to evolve, we remain focused on delivering content from the industry’s most talented filmmakers that features acclaimed actors with global appeal,” said Sierra/Affinity CEO Nick Meyer. “Our new partnership with eOne, including its dynamic studio venture with The Mark Gordon Company, allows us to present more high quality films alongside the continually strong slate from our network of independent producers and financiers.”