The Weinstein Company is understood to be close to acquiring domestic rights on John Hillcoat’s The Wettest County.

CAA and Cassian Elwes represent domestic rights to the Benaroya Pictures and Annapurna Films Western about Depression Era bootleggers in the American South starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Mia Wasikowska and Gary Oldman. FilmNation handles international sales.

Michael Benaroya, Megan Ellison, Lucy Fisher and Doug Wick are producing.

Relativity Media was reportedly in the mix for a while, but sources said The Weinsteins emerged over Sunday night as the strongest contenders to acquire Hillcoat’s follow-up to The Road.

Nick Cave adapted the screenplay from Matt Bondurant’s book The Wettest County In The World: A Novel Based On A True Story.

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