Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to director Richard Ayoade’s “The Double,” which stars Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska.
Magnolia plans a theatrical release for “The Double” in 2014 following a robust domestic festival run.
Co-written by Ayoade and Avi Korine, the film is loosely based on the novella by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
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The supporting cast includes Wallace Shawn, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor, James Fox, Cathy Moriarty, Chris O’Dowd, Sally Hawkins, Craig Roberts and Paddy Considine.
Roberts, Taylor, Hawkins, Paige and Considine all co-starred in Ayoade’s directorial debut “Submarine.”
A darkly funny and moving dystopian vision, “The Double” was produced by Amina Dasmal and Robin Fox, while Michael Caine, Graeme Cox, Tessa Ross and Nigel Williams served as executive producers.
Eisenberg plays Simon, a timid, isolated man who’s overlooked at work, scorned by his mother and ignored by the woman of his dreams (Wasikowska). The arrival of a new co-worker, James (also played by Eisenberg), serves to upset the balance. James is both Simon’s exact physical double and his opposite — confident, charismatic and good with women. To Simon’s horror, James slowly starts taking over his life.
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“‘The Double’ is an incredibly assured, confident and visionary film. Richard Ayoade is a talent to be reckoned with — he firmly establishes himself as an dynamic and important auteur with this uncannily entertaining, stylish and compulsively watchable film,” said Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles.
“Magnolia’s proven ability to work so well with the leading filmmakers and original voices of our time, makes them the perfect partner for this urgent film,” said Dasmal.
“Magnolia’s passion for the film and for Richard’s work give us a great comfort the film will be handled with strength and thought needed to give it the platform it richly deserves,” added Fox.
“The Double” is Film4 and BFI presentation of an Alcove Entertainment production in association with Protagonist Pictures.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia’s John Von Thaden with WME Global and Protagonist Pictures on behalf of the filmmakers.