Fox Searchlight Takes ‘A Bigger Splash’

Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley announced today that Fox Searchlight has acquired U.S. rights to the Studiocanal-financed A Bigger Splash, directed by Luca Guadagino. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts and Dakota Johnson and was written by David Kajganich. It is produced by Michael Costigan, Guadagnino and Kajganich and will be released this year. Studiocanal has territory rights in  France, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and is also handling international sales.

A Bigger Splash revolves around a high-profile couple –a rock star and a filmmaker (Schoenaerts and Swinton) — who are vacationing in the remote Italian island of Pantelleria. Their rest is disrupted by the sudden visit of an old friend and his daughter (Fiennes and Johnson), setting up a whirlwind of jealousy, passion and ultimate danger for the group.

Brokering the sale are Fox Searchlight’s EVP Worldwide Acquisitions Tony Safford; SVP Business Affairs Megan O’Brien; SVP Acquisitions & Co-Productions Ray Strache and Studiocanal head of international sales Anna Marsh.

“The film is a rich and enigmatic thriller and we look forward to bringing Luca’s vision to American audiences later this year.  And we have the added joy of working with old friends – Ralph, Tilda, and Matthias,” said Utley and Gilula.