Ming
02-07-2006, 01:52 PM
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Indie movie distributor ThinkFilm has acquired worldwide rights to "Strangers With Candy," a feature based on the Comedy Central cult hit about 46-year-old ex-junkie high school student Jerri Blank.
The complex deal amounts to about $2 million plus box office bonuses for the filmmakers, according to a source close to the negotiations. The company plans to release the film in exclusive engagements in late June or early July.
The film, produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company, was originally picked up at last year's Sundance Film Festival by Warner Independent Pictures for some $3 million. But it reverted to Worldwide Pants last fall after WIP raised questions about clearance issues.
According to a source close to the production, no changes were made to the feature during or after its time at WIP. Warners' lawyers, the source contended, were overzealous regarding rights clearance issues on posters and other elements in the production. A WIP spokesperson said the company had no comment.
ThinkFilm said "all problems were overcome before we acquired it (and) we do not have issues that will prevent us from gleefully promoting it."
Paul Dinello's feature film version of the TV series centers on self-proclaimed "boozer, user and loser" Blank and reunites cast members Amy Sedaris as the main character, Stephen Colbert and Dinello as teachers carrying on a secret affair, Greg Hollimon as the school principal and Deborah Rush as Blank's evil stepmother.
A host of star cameo appearances are featured, including Matthew Broderick as a guest professor, Sarah Jessica Parker as a guidance counselor, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Allison Janney as school board authorities, Dan Hedaya as Blank's father in a coma, Ian Holm as his doctor, Kristen Johnston as a faculty member and Justin Theroux as a driver's ed teacher.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
The complex deal amounts to about $2 million plus box office bonuses for the filmmakers, according to a source close to the negotiations. The company plans to release the film in exclusive engagements in late June or early July.
The film, produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company, was originally picked up at last year's Sundance Film Festival by Warner Independent Pictures for some $3 million. But it reverted to Worldwide Pants last fall after WIP raised questions about clearance issues.
According to a source close to the production, no changes were made to the feature during or after its time at WIP. Warners' lawyers, the source contended, were overzealous regarding rights clearance issues on posters and other elements in the production. A WIP spokesperson said the company had no comment.
ThinkFilm said "all problems were overcome before we acquired it (and) we do not have issues that will prevent us from gleefully promoting it."
Paul Dinello's feature film version of the TV series centers on self-proclaimed "boozer, user and loser" Blank and reunites cast members Amy Sedaris as the main character, Stephen Colbert and Dinello as teachers carrying on a secret affair, Greg Hollimon as the school principal and Deborah Rush as Blank's evil stepmother.
A host of star cameo appearances are featured, including Matthew Broderick as a guest professor, Sarah Jessica Parker as a guidance counselor, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Allison Janney as school board authorities, Dan Hedaya as Blank's father in a coma, Ian Holm as his doctor, Kristen Johnston as a faculty member and Justin Theroux as a driver's ed teacher.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter