US studio Fox International has piecked up the Spanish rights to Alejandro Amenabar’s $70m historical epic Agora, starring Rachel Weisz, It will be released on October 9.

The film premiered in the official selection at this year’s Cannes, although was not in competition. US outfit Focus Features has already taken worldwide distribution and sales rights to Agora outside Spain.

The ambitious historical drama tells the story of a love triangle between astronomer Hypatia (Weisz), Davus (Max Minghella) and Orestes (Oscar Isaac), and is set in 4th century Alexandria during the conflicts between the Pagans and the Christians.

Fernando Bovaira and Simon de Santiago’s Mod Producciones co-produce alongside Telecinco Cinema, the film arm of Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, and Amenabar’s own company Himenoptero.

Amenabar’s previous films The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro), starring Javier Bardem, and The Others (2001), starring Nicole Kidman, took $26m and $21m, respectively at the Spanish box office.

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