Sony Pictures Classics has acquired from WestEnd Films all rights in North America, Middle East, India, Eastern Europe (excluding Russia), Turkey and worldwide airlines to Freud’s Last Session to star Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Goode.
Matt Brown (The Man Who Knew Infinity) will direct from a screenplay by Mark St. Germain based on his play of the same name. Alan Greisman (The Bucket List), Rick Nicita (Hacksaw Ridge), Meg Thomson (Siren), and Hannah Leader (Gosford Park) are producing. Production is set to begin in the UK in late January 2023.
On the eve of the Second World War and towards the end of his life, Sigmund Freud invites author C.S. Lewis for a debate over the existence of God. The film explores Freud’s unique relationship with his lesbian daughter Anna, and Lewis’ unconventional romance with his best friend’s mother. Freud’s Last Session interweaves past, present and fantasy from the confines of Freud’s study.
This project reunites Sony Pictures Classics with Hopkins after multiple collaborations ranging from the distributor’s first release 30 years ago, Howards End, to Oscar-winning role in The Father in 2020. The production designer is Luciana Arrighi, who won the Oscar for best art direction on Howards End.
WestEnd has also struck deals in Australia (Sharmill Films), Italy (Adler), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Israel (United King), and Greece (Spentzos).
“The talented Matt Brown has surrounded himself with the best design team and cinematographer working today,” said Sony Pictures Classics. “Freud’s Last Session promises to be a major movie. It is also great to be back in business with our friends at WestEnd.”
“This very human story about two world-renowned ideological giants deserves to be brought to a wide audience. We could not wish for a better partner than SPC to bring their passion and expertise to Freud’s Last Session,” said Maya Amsellem, WestEnd managing director.
The companies have worked together on Ralph Fiennes’ The Invisible Woman and Joseph Cedar’s Footnote.
CAA Media Finance also represented the filmmakers in the deals.
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