Universal has picked up all international rights from Media Rights Capital to This Side Of The Truth, the comedy that marks Ricky Gervais' debut as a feature film director.
As previously announced, Warner Bros holds North American rights to the story starring Gervais as a man in an alternate universe who tells the first lie.
Starring alongside him are Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe and Louis C K, with supporting cast that includes Tina Fey, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hodgman and Jonah Hill.
Gervais and Matthew Robinson wrote the script together and will co-direct when shooting starts in Boston on April 14. Lynda Obst and Oly Obst are producing with Dan Lin serving as executive producer.
Universal Pictures' senior vice president and general manager of worldwide acquisitions Jason Resnick brought the project to the studio.
This the second major deal between the parties in less than a year after Universal is believed to have paid $42m for domestic and English-speaking rights as well as Germany and the Benelux to Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno, based around his comic television person as an Austrian fashion journalist.
'Ricky Gervais is a tremendous international star and a wonderfully original comedic voice,' Universal Pictures International president of production and acquisitions Christian Grass said.
'Partnering with talent like Ricky Gervais enables us to pursue the right distribution partners for our properties,' MRC co-CEOs Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu said. 'We have already been to the dance with Universal Pictures and know that they are the right distribution partner for this property and will take the same pride in distributing it that we and our artists partners have taken in its creation and
production.'
As previously announced, Warner Bros holds North American rights to the story starring Gervais as a man in an alternate universe who tells the first lie.
Starring alongside him are Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe and Louis C K, with supporting cast that includes Tina Fey, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hodgman and Jonah Hill.
Gervais and Matthew Robinson wrote the script together and will co-direct when shooting starts in Boston on April 14. Lynda Obst and Oly Obst are producing with Dan Lin serving as executive producer.
Universal Pictures' senior vice president and general manager of worldwide acquisitions Jason Resnick brought the project to the studio.
This the second major deal between the parties in less than a year after Universal is believed to have paid $42m for domestic and English-speaking rights as well as Germany and the Benelux to Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno, based around his comic television person as an Austrian fashion journalist.
'Ricky Gervais is a tremendous international star and a wonderfully original comedic voice,' Universal Pictures International president of production and acquisitions Christian Grass said.
'Partnering with talent like Ricky Gervais enables us to pursue the right distribution partners for our properties,' MRC co-CEOs Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu said. 'We have already been to the dance with Universal Pictures and know that they are the right distribution partner for this property and will take the same pride in distributing it that we and our artists partners have taken in its creation and
production.'
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