HOLLYWOOD - The fifth day of the Sundance Film Festival saw studios picking up the pace in what has been an unusually sluggish purchasing climate.
New Regency Films was in final negotiations to pick up distribution rights for “K-19: The Widowmaker.” Starring Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson, the drama is based on the true story of a Soviet submarine crew’s attempt to keep the payload on their vessel from a nuclear meltdown. The film begins production in February and is budgeted for $80 million.
Lions Gate Films has also paid $1 million for North American distribution rights to “Double Whammy.” Written by Tom DiCillo, the comic thriller stars Denis Leary as a New York City homicide detective who manages to straighten out both his back and his career -- with a little help from a voluptuous chiropractor (Elizabeth Hurley). Steve Buscemi, Chris Noth, Luis Guzman and Victor Argo round out the cast.