Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth sold to UK, Germany, Spain

Wild Bunch and StudioCanal have both boarded rights to Paolo Sorrentino’s next feature Youth, which is proving a hot commodity at the Marche.

Wild Bunch has taken rights in Germany and Spain from Pathe International while StudioCanal has struck a deal for UK with the film’s producers.

Rachel Weisz, Harvey Keitel and Paul Dano recently joined Michael Caine on Sorrentino’s follow-up to his Oscar-winner The Great Beauty.

Written by Sorrentino, the drama is produced by Sorrentino’s longtime producers Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima and Carlotta Calori, partners at Rome’s Indigo Film. Sorrentino’s regular DoP Luca Bigazzi is also on board.

Co-producers are Pathe, who also have French rights, Bis Films, Switzerland’s C-Films and London-based Number 9 Films.

Italian distributor Medusa/Mediaset co-finances.

The film follows two elderly men - one a long retired composer-conductor, the other a still-jobbing film director - who are holidaying together in an elegant hotel in the Alps.

Filming is due to get underway soon.