Open Road Films takes US on Killer Elite starring DeNiro, Statham

Open Road Films, the new distributor set up by US theatre chains AMC and Regal and run by Tom Ortenberg, has bought its first film, taking US rights to Omnilab Media’s Killer Elite starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert DeNiro.

The distributor has scheduled for a nationwide release this autumn in more than 2,000 theatres and is committing a $25m p&a spend.

Gary McKendry directed the tale of a Special Ops agent who sets out to rescue his mentor and bring down a rogue SAS unit. The film is based on Ranulph Fiennes’ controversial non-fiction book The Feather Men.

Michael Boughen produced through project financier Omnilab’s Australian production arm Ambience Entertainment alongside Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Steve Chasman, and Tony Winley. CEO Ortenberg is overseeing with new marketing president Jason Cassidy.

“Killer Elite is a fantastic, adrenaline-rush movie with a stellar cast,” Ortenberg said. “As one of the highest profile, big budget independent films available for the US, I am thrilled to have Killer Elite as Open Road’s premiere release and to extend my long-standing relationship with the team at Omnilab.”

“In Open Road Films we’ve found a fantastic partner to bring Killer Elite to American audiences,” Omnilab’s managing director Christopher Mapp said. “Their distribution model is one of the most exciting in the marketplace and we are looking forward to an incredibly productive partnership with Tom and his team.”

Ortenberg, general counsel and evp of operations and business affairs Elliott Kleinberg and svp of acquistions Ben Cotner negotiated the deal with executive producers Matthew Street and Peter D Graves on behalf of Omnilab Media.