Magnolia Pictures has swooped on all North American rights to Freakonomics ahead of the documentary’s world premiere at Tribeca later this month.

Alex Gibney, Morgan Spurlock, Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing, Eugene Jarecki, and Seth Gordon directed the segments, based on Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s popular economics bestseller.

Magnolia plans an autumn theatrical release for the film, which explores such diverse themes as the violent truths behind sumo wrestling, the repercussions of baby names, the rationale behind motivating underachieving children with cash, and the story behind falling crime rates in the 1990s.

Chad Troutwine produced with Chris Romano and Dan O’Meara of the Green Film Company.

“The fact that this dream project is being realised by the ‘dream team’ of documentary film-makers makes this a major film event,” Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles said. Senior vice-president Tom Quinn negotiated the deal with Troutwine, Romano and O’Meara.

Freakonomics will be the closing night gala screening at Tribeca, which runs from April 21 to May 2.

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