MGM is partnering with Lantern Entertainment to develop, finance, produce and distribute “Boys in the Boat,” the studio announced on Tuesday.
This marks the first development deal that Lantern has had since acquiring The Weinstein Co. assets out of bankruptcy back in July.
MGM’s motion pictures president Jonathan Glickman made the deal announcement along with Lantern co-presidents Andy Mitchell and Milos Brajovic.
“We are proud to be partnering with MGM and their incredibly talented team of executives to bring this moving story to audiences worldwide,” said Mitchell and Brajovic in a statement. “Collaborating with MGM on Lantern Entertainment’s first production reinforces our commitment to foster productive partnerships anchored by powerful stories we are passionate about.”
The film is to be based on the New York Times bestselling nonfiction book “The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics,” written by Daniel James Brown. The film tells the remarkable underdog story of the University of Washington men’s rowing team that defeated powerhouses like Harvard and Yale on their way to ultimately winning a gold medal over host team Germany in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
“We couldn’t be more honored and excited to partner with Andy, Milos and the stellar team at Lantern on this epic and inspirational story vividly told by Daniel Brown,” Glickman said in a statement. “The themes, characterizations and settings make it a story meant to be experienced on the big screen, and we are honored to be part of bringing it to audiences around the world.”
MGM will handle worldwide distribution for the film. Upcoming releases from MGM Studios include “Creed II,” “Fighting With My Family,” “The Hustle,” “The Addams Family” and “Legally Blonde 3.”
Lantern recently partnered with international film distribution and financing company 13 Films to release the buzzy “The Current War” and horror flick “Polaroid” overseas, two completed, but unreleased films the company acquired from TWC.
The company previously partnered with STXFilms on distribution of “The Upside.”