Ahead of competition from the Cannes Film Festival, FilmNation Entertainment has acquired international rights for ‘Room’, Lenny Abrahamson’s next feature. The film is based on the Emma Donoghue novel of the same name, which was a finalist for the Man Booker and Orange prizes and has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Donoghue wrote the novel and will also write the adapted screenplay.
The captivity drama stars Brie Larson as a young mother who shelters her five year old son from the truth that the small room they live in is actually where the two are being held captive, and where the mother has been trapped since she was a teenager.
Ed Guiney will produce and Andrew Lowe is executive producer for Irish production company Element Pictures alongside Tessa Ross, Sue Bruce Smith and Rose Garnett for Film4. The Irish Film Board is developing the project with Film4. UTA Independent Film Group represents North American rights and assembled financing with Element Pictures.
FilmNation will launch foreign sales at Cannes through CEO Glen Basner. UTA Independent Film Group will be handling the North American rights, and is putting together the financing alongside Element Pictures.
Lenny Abrahamson’s film ‘Frank’, also produced by Element, is showing in Irish cinemas now. See IFTN’s interview with the director here.
Production for ‘Room’ is due to commence this autumn.