Latest in Acquisitions

STXfilms has won the U.S. rights to director Kevin Macdonald’s untitled legal thriller formerly known as Prisoner 760. The project stars Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA winner Jodie Foster, BAFTA nominee Tahar Rahim, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Shailene Woodley, Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch and Shazam! and The M…

Microsoft said Sunday evening it will continue to pursue a takeover of TikTok in the U.S. as President Donald Trump backs off of threats to ban the service, a development that could see the software giant running the hugely popular video sharing app by mid-September. The Redmond, Washigton-based company announced its…

UPDATE, SATURDAY P.M.: The WSJ has reported that Microsoft has paused the purchase of the U.S. operation of social media, video-sharing app TikTok following Trump’s threat to ban the app on Friday. The situation seems dicey as the two companies are trying to gather more information on Trump’s course of action. "The…

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to The 24th, a period drama based on true events from Oscar-winning BlacKkKlansman co-writer Kevin Willmott. The pic, which was slated to premiere at SXSW before the festival was shut down in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, will now get a…

EXCLUSIVE: IFC Midnight we have learned has acquired North American rights to the Joe Marcantonio psychological drama Kindred which they’re planning to open on Nov. 6. Kindred follows mother-to-be Charlotte. She collapses upon receiving the news that her boyfriend Ben suddenly dies in an accident. She wakes up in…

Independent studio Gunpowder & Sky has acquired worldwide rights to UFC 1: Origins of the Octagon, a documentary from Mandalay Sports Media that traces the roots of the pro MMA league to its tumultuous first event in 1993. The Ultimate Fighting Championship film will get a fall release. "We’re thrilled to be working…

EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a hot one. Universal Pictures, Insecure star and creator Issa Rae and Oscar winner Jordan Peele (Get Out) are teaming on Sinkhole, a thought-provoking genre movie that engages with questions of female perfection and identity. In a low-seven-figure deal, Universal beat out more than 10 studio bidders…

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights Sean Cisterna's dramatic feature From the Vine for a PVOD and digital release this fall. The movie, written by Willem Wennekers, and adapted from Ken Cancellara's novel Finding Marco, follows Mark Gentile (Joe Pantoliano), an attorney and automotive company executive, who…

Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center has launched Black Carpet Speaker Series, a free series providing Black filmmakers a platform to discuss their careers, influences, latest works, and filmmaking insights. BHERC has tapped powerhouse directors Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Old Guard) and Kasi Lemmons (Harriet)…

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to John Leguizamo's feature directorial debut Critical Thinking, which he also stars in and produced. Written by Dito Montiel, Critical Thinking tells the 1998 true story of five LatinX and Black teenagers from Miami Jackson Senior High School…

EXCLUSIVE: In another deal that shows the streamer-fueled appetite for promising material and packages, Netflix has made a low-seven-figure commitment between rights to the Matt Query short story My Wife & I Bought a Ranch, and scripting fees for the author’s brother Harrison Query to write the screenplay. The story…

Apple has acquired rights to Fireball, Werner Herzog’s latest documentary feature, which is now part of the Apple Original film slate and will have its global premiere on Apple TV+. A date has not yet been set. Fireball reunites Herzog with Professor Clive Oppenheimer for their third pic together following the 2007’s…