Fledging North American distributor Row K Entertainment has made its first acquisition, taking US and Canadian rights at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire.
The true 1977-set story, about an aspiring Indianapolis entrepreneur who became a folk hero when he took his mortgage broker hostage, will open before the end of the year and get an awards push.
Sources pegged the deal in the mid-seven figures and it is understood Row K concluded negotiations on Monday night, prevailing over other theatrical buyers understood to have been in the hunt.
WME Independent and Cassian Elwes of Elevated Films negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers. WME Independent also handles international sales.
This is the second major on-site acquisition after Focus Features moved on most of the world on Midnight Madness horror Obsession.
Dead Man’s Wire received its North American premiere in TIFF on Sunday night after the world premiere in Venice. It screens again in TIFF on Thursday.
Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Colman Domingo, and Al Pacino star. Cassian Elwes, Mark Akim, and Sam Pressman are among the producers.
Row K president Megan Colligan said of Dead Man’s Wire: “It’s an ambitious, artist-driven film that reflects the kind of bold cinema we intend to bring to audiences.”
MCT backs Row K and has been Lionsgate’s primary slate co-financing partner since 2023, investing in more than 20 films with the studio, including the upcoming The Long Walk, TIFF selection Good Fortune, and The Housemaid.