The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnet Releasing, has acquired US rights to Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures announced on Wednesday.
The samurai film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It will also be the “Closing Night” film at this year’s Fantastic Fest in Austin.
Set in 1844 Japan, and based on a 1963 film of the same name, “13 Assassins” stars Koji Yakusho (“Babel”). Yakusho plays a samurai who assembles an elite team of thirteen killers to assassinate the brother of the Shogun, a sadistic young lord who’s abusing his power.
Terms of the purchase were not revealed, but the deal was negotiated by Magnet Senior Vice President Tom Quinn and Hanway Films Chief Executive Officer Tim Haslam. "13 Assassins" will be released theatrically by Magnet in the first quarter of 2011.
Hanway said it had soldthe rights over 20 territories in Toronto including Canada (Alliance), Australia/NZ (Icon), and Italy (BIM). The company said a deal for UK distribution will be announced shortly.
