Brooke Bunny
Starz are picking up Jason Bateman-directed drama “The Family Fang”. The movie stars Bateman, Nicolas Kidman and Christopher Walken.
Beverly Hills, Calif. / New York- October 8, 2015 – Starz announced today it has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to The Family Fang, and is planning a significant 2016 theatrical release through Starz Digital, its multi-platform releasing team. A comedic family drama directed by Jason Bateman (Bad Words) The Family Fang stars Academy Award®-winner Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole, The Hours, Moulin Rouge!); Bateman (The Gift, Horrible Bosses, “Arrested Development”), and co-stars Academy Award®-winner Christopher Walken (Jersey Boys, Catch Me If You Can, Wedding Crashers) and Maryann Plunkett (“House of Cards,” Blue Valentine, The Squid and the Whale). The film was well received by critics and audiences at its recent premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Based on the best-selling novel by Kevin Wilson, The Family Fang was written by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Following the theatrical release, The Family Fang will have an on-demand release, and an exclusive TV premiere on STARZ. The deal was negotiated with CAA on behalf of the filmmakers.
“Jason Bateman continues to impress as a director,” said Brett Marottoli, Vice President of Acquisitions for Starz. “’The Family Fang’ is as moving as it is funny and features a stellar cast at the top of their game. We can’t wait to bring such an impassioned film to audiences.”
Adult siblings Baxter (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Nicole Kidman), scarred from an unconventional upbringing, return to their family home. When their parents (Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett)— performance artists famous for elaborate public hoaxes— go missing under troubling circumstances, Baxter and Annie investigate. Unsure whether it’s foul play or just another elaborate ruse, nothing can prepare them for what they discover.
The film has been financed by Red Crown Productions (Beasts of No Nation, Hello, My Name is Doris) and produced by Red Crown’s Daniela Taplin Lundberg and Riva Marker, Blossom’s Nicole Kidman and Per Saari, Olympus Pictures’ Leslie Urdang and Dean Vanech and Aggregate Film’s Jason Bateman and Jim Garavente. The film is executive produced by Red Crown’s Dan Crown, Matthew Salloway and Christina Papagjika of West Madison Entertainment and Anne O’Shea of Minerva Productions. Kidman and Saari through their Blossom Films optioned the book and developed the script along with Olympus Pictures’ Urdang and Vanech.
Jason Bateman made his directorial debut with the subversive comedy Bad Words, which also premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. He is represented by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Starz Digital’s upcoming releases include Sean Mewshaw’s Tumbledown starring Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudeikis and Stephen S. Campanelli’s Momentum starring Olga Kurylenko and James Purefoy. Recent titles include Dito Montiel’s Boulevard starring Robin Williams in his final dramatic performance, Amy Berg’s Every Secret Thing, starring Diane Lane, Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Banks, and Clark Gregg’s Trust Me starring Gregg, Felicity Huffman, Amanda Peet and Sam Rockwell.
