iW NEWS | THINK Takes "The Escapist" for North America

North American rights to Rupert Wyatt's directorial debut "The Escapist" have been picked up by THINKFilm, the company announced Thursday. The thriller had its world premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival and will open theatrically in the Fall of '08 according to THINK's theatrical division head Mark Urman. Urman and the company's VP of acqusitions, Ben Stambler, negotiated the deal with Tristan Whalley and Nicki Parfitt of Goalpost Film, and Cassian Elwes of William Morris Independent on behalf of the filmmakers. In the film, Brian Cox stars as a man who is serving a life sentence in prison. When a letter informs him that his daughter is critically ill, he decides he must see her before it is too late and concocts an escape plan. He assembles a motley crew of unlikely companions each of whom possesses a special and necessary skill that will help with his far-fetched scheme... "'The Escapist' is a dazzling directorial debut and an exceptional visual and visceral experience," commented Urman in a statement. "I am thrilled to be working with such an exciting creative team, on both sides of the camera, and if audiences are half as impressed by their work as we are, we'll have a big hit on our hands." [Brian Brooks]