Tommy Lee Jones’ Cannes Hit ‘The Homesman’ Is Saban Films’ First Acquisition

The western, starring Hillary Swank, will get a 2014 release date

Tommy Lee Jones‘ new film about the western frontier will help take Saban Films into uncharted territory.

“The Homesman” stars Hillary Swank as a tough and efficient pioneer woman who tries to stake out independence on her homestead in the 1850s, but still has to deal with the strict gender roles of the day. It earned strong reviews when it premiered earlier this week in Cannes, and the admiration of  Saban Films president Bill Bromiley and his team. The cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld, James Spader and Meryl Streep.

Also read: Haim Saban Launches Film Group, Headed to Cannes

Saban Films, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, will release the film in theaters later this year.

“We are honored to have such a prestigious and beautifully crafted film as the first project to launch Saban Films,” Saban said.

Jones directed the film from a script he co-wrote based on a novel by Glendon Swarthout. Writing for TheWrap, Sasha Stone praised “The Homesman”: “Half funny, the other half stark and tragic, the film shows that Jones has become a formidable director as he explores a topic that is clearly close to his own heart.”

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