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Written by Patrick Frater
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Monday, 19 May 2008 |
CANNES -- IFC has snapped up North American rights to "The Chaser," (pictured) the South Korean actioner that has already been bought for remake by Warner Bros. Other major territories sold Monday by sales agent Fine Cut were Japan where pic, was co-acquired by The Klockworx Co. and Asmik Ace, and the U.K. where it was sought out by Metrodome. IFC will likely release the film in the fourth quarter of this year or early 2009. "We'll probably do a platform release as a day and date with our video-on-demand platform. I just know that it is going to do great business on VoD," IFC prexy Jonathan Sehring said. "This film will stand the test of time and still be seen as a great movie in five or ten years. Its really that good," Sebring said. Story sees a pimp outrun the police in a race against time to save the victim of a serial killer. Pic was written and helmed by first time filmmaker Na Hong-jin (cq) and was is the biggest hit of the year in its native Korea, where it has run away with B.O. of $30 million. It appears in Cannes' Official Selection as a midnight screening. Fine Cut, which is headed by founder and former topper of Cineclick, has now completed deals in nine territories. Others wrapped earlier include those with Haut Et Court in France, Seven in Greece, Cineart in Benelux and Golden Scene in Hong Kong.
Pic was bought in March by Warner Bros as a property for Leonardo DiCaprio to produce and possibly star (Variety, March 6, 2008.) Dan Lin, Doug Davison, Roy Lee and "Departed" scripter William Monahan will be producers, with DiCaprio possibly in some producing capacity.
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