The Weinstein Company has acquired North America and select territory rights from See-Saw Films and Bedlam Productions to The King’s Speech starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.

The company also licensed rights for Germany, France, China, Hong Kong, Latin America, Benelux and Scandinavia, where an offer is already on the table from Svensk.

Tom Hooper will commence principal photography later this year from a screenplay by David Seidler about George VI, the late father of the current British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, who befriended an unorthodox speech therapist to overcome his stammer. TWC plans an 2010 North American release.

See-Saw Films’ Iain Canning and Emile Sherman are producing with Gareth Unwin of Bedlam Productions.

“The King’s Speech is a powerful story about a remarkable time in history,” TWC International chief David Glasser said. “We’re looking forward to working with See-Saw and Bedlam, who are so passionate about this project, and with Tom, David and Geoffrey.”

This is the second acquisition after Nowhere Boy by Glasser and TWC president of theatrical films Tom Ortenberg since Ortenberg arrived from Lionsgate.

Glasser, senior vice-president of business and legal affairs and acquisitions Michal Steinberg, and vice-president of production and development Rhodri Thomas negotiated on behalf of TWC with Sherman and Canning on behalf of See-Saw Films International, and Libby Savill, head of the film team at London based law film Olswang.

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