SPWA picks up world rights to Detention

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) has picked up worldwide rights to Detention Films’ Detention.

Directed by Joseph Kahn the film is billed as an apocalyptic fantasy, horror, science fiction, action-thriller, body swapping, time-traveling teen romantic comedy.

The announcement was made by SPWA’s vice president of production and acquisitions Scott Shooman and Michael Helfand, senior vice president of business affairs, along with Detention Films’ Bob Abramoff and Richard Weager.

Detention stars Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook and Shanley Caswell and follows the local students of Grizzly Lake as they survive their final year of high school. Bringing even more angst to student life, a slasher killer has chosen their high school as his new home of slaughter. It becomes a race against time to stop the killer, which will in turn save the world - if only they can get out of detention.

The film recently took home the Youth Jury prize for best FutureWave Feature Film at the Seattle International Film Festival. 

Detention was co-written by Joseph Kahn and Mark Palermo. Executive producers on the film are Robert Abramoff, Josh Hutcherson, David Kang, Clayton Reaser, Vernon Reaser, with producers MarryAnn Tanedo and Richard Weager.

“This is the best apocalyptic fantasy, horror, science fiction, action-thriller, body swapping, time-traveling teen romantic comedy that we have ever screened. The pace, energy, and awesomeness Joseph Kahn has achieved in Detention is completely mind-blowing in the best way possible,” said Shooman.

“I am thrilled for Detention to find an enthusiastic home at Sony,” said Kahn. “I am looking forward to unleashing our apocalyptic fantasy, horror, science fiction, action-thriller, body swapping, time-traveling teen romantic comedy.”  

The deal was brokered by International Creative Management, which packaged the film and represented worldwide rights. The agency represents Kahn and Hutcherson.