Toronto: Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Enemy’ in 3-Way Bidding Tug-of-War (Exclusive)

Positive buzz and good reviews for Gyllenhaal’s other collaboration with Denis Villeneuve sparked multi-day auction

UPDATE 5:29 p.m. PT: Lionsgate is not in the running at this time, as this post had previously indicated. The story and headline have been written through to reflect that.

PREVIOUS: A three-way scrum for Jake Gyllenhaal‘s buzzy Toronto title “Enemy” is under way, TheWrap has learned — with a deal expected to close by Wednesday night.

A24, The Weinstein Co. and Focus were nearing the finish line on a deal in the low seven-figure range. Positive reaction and reviews touched off the multi-day auction that began after its weekend premiere.

Also read: ‘Prisoners’ Director Denis Villeneuve, Alcon Sign 2-Year Overall Deal

Based on the José Saramago novel “The Double,” the thriller from Canadian director Denis Villeneuve (“Incendies,”  “Prisoners”), “Enemy” finds Gyllenhaal playing a college professor in a mundane life – until he spots his exact double playing a bit part in a movie. He tracks down the small-time actor (also played by Gyllenhaal), sparking a mutual obsession.

Also read: Toronto: Eli Roth’s Cannibal Movie ‘The Green Inferno’ Gobbled Up by Open Road

In his review for IndieWire, Rodrigo Perez noted the film’s “striking, sensual disposition simmering in the French-Canadian filmmaker’s engrossing Kafka-eque mindfuck cum provocative psychological thriller.”

Gyllenhaal was in Toronto for the Sunday premiere at the Ryerson Theatre — two days after he was on the Canadian red carpet for “Prisoners,” which he also made with Villeneuve. That film is being distributed by Warner Bros.

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