Magnolia Pictures Acquires Worldwide Rights To 'Assassins,' From Director Ryan White
- Details
- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Tuesday, 04 February 2020 10:07
- Written by Hildy Johnson
Magnolia Pictures announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights to ASSASSINS, equal parts true crime and global spy thriller, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ryan White (ASK DR. RUTH, THE KEEPERS, THE CASE AGAINST 8) after its Sundance premiere.
The documentary chronicles the gripping account of the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of the infamous North Korean leader. Magnolia will release ASSASSINS, which just world-premiered at Sundance to critical and audience acclaim, this year.
Academy Awards: Nominations For The 92nd Academy Awards Announced (Complete List)
In 2017, Kim Jong-nam-the half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un-was assassinated in the bustling departures hall of Malaysia's international airport. The spectacularly brazen murder happened in broad daylight, filmed entirely by security cameras.
Footage showed two young women approaching Jong-nam from behind, covering his eyes with their hands, and pressing VX-the most lethal nerve gas on earth-into his eyes. He stumbled away and was dead within an hour. But if the murder was extreme, the story that came next was even more bizarre: The two women who killed Jong-nam claimed they had simply been hired to pull a video prank and had no idea what they were really doing.
DREAMSCAPES DreamWorks Dragons Flight Academy Review - An Awesome, Thrilling, Free Flying Adventure
The Malaysian government scoffed, arrested and imprisoned the women and put them on trial for murder, facing execution. But was their outlandish story actually the truth? And would anyone believe them? ASSASSINS travels from the sanctums of Pyongyang to the rice fields of Indonesia and Vietnam to the courtrooms of Kuala Lumpur to tell an extraordinary tale of manipulation and subterfuge in the age of social media.
"Some stories can't be made up and in ASSASSINS, Ryan White does a terrific job unpacking one of the most mind-boggling stories in recent memory," said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. "We're very excited to bring it to American audiences and beyond."
"This story is so bizarre and sensational, but we were captivated by the central question: who are the two mystery women that assassinated Kim Jong-nam?" said Ryan White. "It takes a brave distributor to take on this subject matter, so we're thrilled that Magnolia will be our partner on our third film together."
Amazon Studios Announces Overall Deal with Award-Winning Director and Screenwriter Steve McQueen
Directed by Ryan White, ASSASSINS was produced by Jessica Hargrave and White. Executive producers are Doug Bock Clark, Dan Cogan, and Geralyn White Dreyfous.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia EVP Dori Begley and Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden with Submarine Entertainment and WME on behalf of the filmmakers.
About MAGNOLIA PICTURES
The leading independent film distributor for nearly 20 years, Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies. Recent releases include CUNNINGHAM, director Alla Kovgan's immersive documentary on visionary American choreographer Merce Cunningham; Cannes Best Actress prize-winning sci-fi feature LITTLE JOE;MISTER AMERICA, a new comedy starring Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington;RAISE HELL: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOLLY IVINS, a new documentary about the trailblazing Texas journalist that world-premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the Festival Favorites Audience Award at SXSW; TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, celebrating the life and career of the trailblazing literary icon; 2018 Cannes Palme d'Or winner and Oscar-nominated SHOPLIFTERS, from renowned Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda.
SUPPORT THE GIRLS, Andrew Bujalski's critically lauded film starring New York Film Critics Circle Best Actress award winner Regina Hall; Box office sensation and Oscar-nominated RBG, award-winning filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen's documentary about the consequential life and legal legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Ruben Östlund's 2017 Cannes Palme d'Or winner and Oscar-nominated THE SQUARE; and Raoul Peck and James Baldwin's Oscar-nominated I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO.
Upcoming releases include Zoey Deutch comedy BUFFALOED; Toronto International Film Festival Opening Night Gala Presentation ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND; Romanian crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, which world-premiered in competition at Cannes; SLAY THE DRAGON, an urgent and eye-opening documentary about gerrymandering; TWO OF US, the feature directorial debut of France-based Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti; JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE, Dawn Porter's timely chronicle of the life and career of the legendary civil rights activist and Democratic Representative from Georgia; and COLLECTIVE, a jaw-dropping expose of corruption at the highest levels of government.
SAG-AFTRA Foundation President Courtney B. Vance Announces $250,000 Matching Gift from Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg
About MAGNOLIA PICTURES INTERNATIONAL
Magnolia Pictures International is the sales arm of Magnolia Pictures, overseeing a diverse catalog of more than 100 features from Magnolia Pictures and 2929 Productions. Over the years, Magnolia International has worked on the international distribution of many ground-breaking documentaries including RBG, LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD, THE WOLFPACK, and IRIS; critically-acclaimed narratives such as LUCKY, TANGERINE, GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, and TWO LOVERS; and genre films XX, THE EYES OF MY MOTHER, TROLLHUNTER, and HONEYMOON. 2019 films include Sundance documentaries HAIL SATAN? and THE BRINK, survival thriller BODY AT BRIGHTON ROCK and Horror/Western THE WIND.