EXCLUSIVE: A24 has pre-bought buzzy feature from Room producers; HanWay has launched sales at Cannes.

Colin Farrell

A24 has swooped on US rights to prestige Cannes package The Killing Of A Sacred Deer from Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster).

HanWay launched the project in Cannes with the director’s The Lobster lead Colin Farrell (True Detective) set to star.

The script is written by Lanthimos and his writing partner Efthymis Filipou and is being produced by Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures (Room, The Lobster). 

Film4 and New Sparta Films are among backers. The producers inked the deal with A24.

A24 previously released Lanthimos’ 2015 Cannes hit The Lobster, which was also a collaboration between the in-demand Greek writer-director, Farrell, Element and Film4.

Inspired by a Euripides tragedy, The Killing Of A Sacred Deer centres on Steven, a charismatic surgeon, and a teenage boy who seeks to integrate him into his broken family.

When the boy’s actions become increasingly sinister, Steven’s ideal life starts to fall apart and he is forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice.