Bleecker Street has acquired U.S. rights to “Ezra,” a family comedy starring Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale.
The movie, directed by Tony Goldwyn, premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and will be released theatrically in 2024.
“Ezra”follows Max Brandel (Cannavale), a once successful late-night comedy writer turned less-successful stand-up comedian, who struggles through the failure of his career and marriage. After moving in with his father (De Niro), Max and his ex-wife Jenna (Cannavale’s real-life partner, Byrne) remain at odds on how to best raise their autistic son, Ezra (newcomer William A. Fitzgerald).Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg round out the cast.
This marks Bleecker Street’s second acquisition out of TIFF following James Hawes’“One Life,” starring Anthony Hopkins. As the actors’ strike drags on and productions remain dark, distributors have been buying movies months after their Toronto premieres to fill the calendar. Sony Pictures Classics recently landed “Wicked Little Letters,” a mystery comedy starring Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.
Outside of the festival market, Bleecker Street also recently nabbed the British comedy“Fackham Hall,”led by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Thomasin McKenzie and Katherine Waterston, and Emma Laird; as well as U.K. rights to Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film,“The Boy and the Heron.” The company’s upcoming slate also features Meg Ryan’sromantic comedy “What Happens Later” and“Waitress: The Musical” with Sara Bareilles.
The deal for “Ezra” was negotiated by Kent Sanderson and Avy Eschenasy on behalf of Bleecker Street, with CAA Media Finance and Laura Rister on behalf of the filmmakers.
