Film News: Fox Searchlight Pictures Acquires Rights to ‘Shame’

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CHICAGO – After snagging the Best Actor prize at the 68th Venice Film Festival, Michael Fassbender’s acclaimed performance in Steve McQueen’s drama, “Shame,” will be able to premiere on American screens in the near future. On Sept. 9, Fox Searchlight Pictures presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced that their studio had acquired U.S. rights to the film, while HanWay Films will handle international sales.

“Shame” marks the second intimate collaboration between McQueen and Fassbender, who each earned raves for 2008’s “Hunger,” a galvanizing look at the last days of Irish republican hunger striker Bobby Sands. Whereas “Hunger” required Fassbender to drop a great deal of pounds, “Shame” entailed an entirely different but equally extreme level of physical commitment from the actor.
 
He plays a Brandon, a New Yorker whose sexual addiction causes him to live an isolated existence until a visit from his sister (Carey Mulligan) reawakens demons from his past. The film’s full frontal nudity and simulated sex will make it an ideal release for Fox Searchlight, since the specialty film company’s previous purchases included Bernardo Bertolucci’s controversial and erotic 2003 drama, “The Dreamers.”

Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender star in Steve McQueen’s Shame.
Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender star in Steve McQueen’s Shame.
Photo credit: Fox Serachlight Pictures

“Steve McQueen’s courageous exploration of modern life’s extremes is breathtaking,” said Gilula and Utley in a statement. “He has crafted an extraordinary film that probes some of the deepest and darkest issues ever portrayed on screen with amazingly gifted performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan.”
 
“Fox Searchlight contacted us immediately after the screening in Telluride to tell us how much they loved the film,” said producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman. “Their approach to marketing and distributing the film this year was incredibly detailed and impressive. We are excited to be working with them on a film that is sparking debate and a strong emotional reaction from audiences.”
 
“This is a brave statement and an important move by Fox Searchlight,” added McQueen. “I am very happy they came on board to release ‘Shame’ in the U.S. It’s great to be working with a team that is so passionate about cinema.”
 
The deal was brokered by Fox Searchlight’s Executive Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions Tony Safford, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs Megan O’Brien, Vice President of Acquisitions Ray Strache with Thorsten Schumacher and Claire Taylor of HanWay Films on behalf of the filmmakers.

‘Shame’ stars Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale and Hannah Ware. It was written by Abi Morgan and Steve McQueen and directed by Steve McQueen. It was produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, co-produced by Bergen Swanson and executive produced by Tessa Ross, Robert Walak, Peter Hampden and Tim Haslam. It is a See-Saw Films production for Film4 and U.K. Film Council and is slated for U.S. release in 2011.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

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