Relativity Media will open Luc Besson’s mafia comedy “Malavita” on Oct. 18, 2013, the company announced Tuesday. The studio is also moving up the release date of its comedy “21 and Over” by two weeks to March 1, 2013.
Written and directed by Besson, “Malavita” stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, Dianna Agron and John D'Leo. It’s based on the book “Badfellas” by Tonino Benacquista. Virginie-Silla Besson is the producer.
The storyline follows the Manzoni crime family who are relocated to Normandy, France, under the witness protection program. While they do their best to fit in, they soon find themselves handling things the "family" way.
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"Luc Besson has pulled together a fantastic cast in “Malavita” in what promises to be an action-packed and humorous film. We're very excited to give this a home in the fall where audiences crave both witty and exciting fare," Relativity president of worldwide distribution Kyle Davies said.
There are two other films currently scheduled to open on that weekend: Warner Bros.’ fantasy “The Seventh Son,” starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore; and “No Good Deed,” a Sony Screen Gems thriller starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson.
Relativity saw a chance to give “21 and Over” a more clear field when Sony’s TriStar moved the sci-fi film “Elysium” off March 1. It’s the only wide opener on that date at this point.
“21 and Over” is the tale of a med-school hopeful whose 21st birthday takes a debauched turn. Miles Teller (“Project X”), Justin Chon (“The Twilight Saga” franchise) and Skylar Astin (“Pitch Perfect”) star. It is written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Relativity’s Ryan Kavanaugh produced.
March was a good month for youth-skewing comedies this year. Warners opened the similarly-themed “Project X” to $21 million on March 2 and Sony’s “21 Jump Street” debuted to $36 million on March 16.