Overture acquires US rights to De Niro-Norton thriller Stone for 2010

John Curran, who previously worked with Norton on The Painted Veil, directed from Junebug writer Angus MacLachlan’s script about a convicted arsonist who uses his beautiful wife to manipulate an older parole officer into securing his parole. Stone is in post-production.

Mimran Schur Pictures and Millennium Films financed the project and Nu Image is handling international sales. Producers are David Mimran, Jordan Schur and Holly Wiersma, with Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Trevor Short serving as executive producers.

“Curran is a gifted director working from a fantastic script and with a top-notch ensemble of actors,” Overture’s CEO Chris McGurk and COO Danny Rosett said. “All of us at Overture are excited to be adding this exciting film to our slate for next year.”

“Chris and Danny have made clear their passion for Stone,” Schur added. “Overture is intent on presenting the film with vigour and grace, and figures to be a great fit for Mimran Schur.”

Overture currently has The Men Who Stare At Goats in release and enjoyed its biggest hit to date with Law Abiding Citizen, who has grossed $71.9m.

Stone will join the 2010 roster that includes The Crazies starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell on February 26, Antoine Fuqua’s crime drama Brooklyn’s Finest on March 5, and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut Jack Goes Boating, which will get its world premiere in Sundance’s Premieres programme in January.

Overture, in conjunction with Hammer Films, recently started filming Let Me In with Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, and Richard Jenkins, writer-director Matt Reeves’ adaptation of Swedish vampire hit Let the Right One In.