The parties announced they have closed a first-look deal whereby Open Road Films will handle US distribution on select titles financed and produced by IM Global.

The companies partnered together on A Haunted House, the Marlon Wayans horror spoof that opened at number two in the North American charts last January and went on to gross more than $40m.

Open Road and IM Global subsequently agreed to reunite on a sequel that is scheduled to open on March 28 2014.

“Stuart Ford [IM Global CEO] and his partners at Reliance Entertainment have built a formidable business and reputation with great projects under their belt and many more in the pipeline,” said Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg. “We’ve had success together on A Haunted House and are looking forward to more great things in the future.”

“Open Road has established itself as a pre-eminent mini-major in the US distribution arena and it will be a privilege for many of our forthcoming releases to be handled by Tom Ortenberg and his team,” said Ford.

Ortenberg, svp of acquisitions Ben Cotner and general counsel and evp of operations and business affairs Elliott Kleinberg brokered the deal with Ford and IM Global evp of motion picture finance Michael Roban.

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