UPDATE: Fox Searchlight has acquired the U.S.distribution rights to Shame, NC-17 rating and all. They plan to release the film before the end of the year. You can read the full official statement on Deadline.com. Yay! We’re very excited and can’t wait to see it!
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Some rather surprising news is making its way around. Studios are expressing a ton of interest in Steve McQueen’s latest film, Shame. What makes this all surprising is that the film is without a doubt NC-17.
…last night, I heard that a bidding battle had already broken out for the Steve McQueen-directed Shame, which should be sold by the time it screens Sunday. Fox Searchlight is the favorite, Sony Pictures Classics is in the mix and I’ve heard that The Weinstein Company is hovering. Bidding began right after its Telluride screening, and the mid-six figures thrown around yesterday will probably go higher. That’s huge, considering the movie is an unabashed NC-17, McQueen has final cut, and the sex-obsessed protagonist is unlikable. Oh, yeah, and the sellers want it released this year for Oscar consideration to capitalize on Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan’s Oscar-caliber performances.
As someone who has read a draft of the script, I firmly stand behind this rating. The film stars Michael Fassbender, who plays a man with a sex addiction. Carey Mulligan stars as his flighty sister, who shows up randomly to his apartment in need of a place to stay. It’s hard to describe the film further, it was a very raw and intense experience reading the script, and I’m positive seeing it all on film infused with the great talents of Fassbender, Mulligan, McQueen and company will be beyond expectations.
It’s great to see studios so open to what is a great film, despite it’s content and rating. NC-17 usually means the film won’t be a box office hit. I’m assuming that studios are thinking that it may not bring in a ton of money, but probably awards. So much praise has been given to Fassbender’s performance in the film, and at this rate, it looks like he’s a shoo-in for a Best Actor nod.
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What do you think of Shame? Are you glad that studios are finally more accepting when it comes to films of this nature? Sound off in the comments.
Source: Deadline
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