The Weinstein Company has officially confirmed its acquisition of Grace of Monaco, the Grace Kelly biopic that sees Nicole Kidman take the leading role.
Directed by Olivier Dahan (La vie en rose), Grace of Monaco has been set by TWC for a heavily Oscar-primed release date, starting with a limited run on December 27th in the US.
Deadline reports that the company, founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, are thought to be paying a $5m. minimum guarantee for the film, with a P&A commitment of around $10m., with at least an 800-screen run.
Grace of Monaco sees Kidman starring alongside Tim Roth, Milo Ventimiglia, Parker Posey, Frank Langella, and Paz Vega.
Dahan, who earned a BAFTA and several César nominations for his 2007 biopic, La vie en rose, is directing from a script by Arash Amel (Erased, a.k.a. The Expatriate).
The studio of course had big successes last year, bringing home a slew of awards at the Oscars and elsewhere for Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, and The Master.
This year, their slate includes a slew of strong early Oscar candidates, with Grace of Monaco joining the likes of the Sundance-favourite, Fruitvale; Lee Daniels’ The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker, Alex Pettyfer, John Cusack, Robin Williams, and Alan Rickman; John Wells’ August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ewan McGregor; and Justin Chadwick’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris.
Grace of Monaco isn’t the only major biopic likely to be a candidate in the Oscar race at the end of the year. Coming off the back of her Best Actress nomination for The Impossible, Naomi Watts will quite likely be a contender in the same category again for portrayal of Princess Diana in Oliver Hirschbiegel’s upcoming biopic, Diana.
The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today their acquisition of the U.S. distribution rights to the upcoming Grace Kelly biopic GRACE OF MONACO. The film is directed by Olivier Dahan (LA VIE EN ROSE) with a screenplay by Arash Amel (ERASED.) Pierre-Ange Le Pogam of Stone Angels produced with YRF Entertainment’s Amel and Uday Chopra. Screened by TWC executives in London earlier this month, GRACE OF MONACO is set to have a December 27th limited release.
Commenting on the deal, Dahan said: “It has been a wonderful experience to be working with Nicole, Tim, Frank, and the whole group. I am very happy now to share the experience with Monsieur Weinstein and the whole team at TWC. This is exciting.”
“More than thirty years after her death, Grace Kelly’s story continues to be one of insurmountable allure and we are so happy Olivier Dahan has brought it new life,” commented TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “As always, Nicole Kidman’s commanding performance is the perfect portrait of a woman who was not only royalty, but who also remains a legend of the silver screen and fashion icon.”
GRACE OF MONACO stars Academy Award® winner Nicole Kidman (RABBIT HOLE, THE HOURS, MOULIN ROUGE!) in the lead role as Kelly and Tim Roth (ARBITRAGE, PULP FICTION, RESEVOIR DOGS) as her husband, Prince Rainier III. The film also features Milo Ventimiglia, Frank Langella, Parker Posey, Paz Vega, and Derek Jacobi in supporting roles.
The deal was negotiated in Los Angeles by COO David Glasser and Michal Steinberg for The Weinstein Company with CAA and Le Pogam on behalf of the filmmakers.
