Searchlight Goes "Crazy"

Variety is reporting that Fox Searchlight has paid a seven-figure minimum guarantee for worldwide rights to actor Scott Cooper's directorial debut "Crazy Heart." The film stars Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall and was directed from Cooper's own script, an adaptation of the novel by Thomas Cobb of the same name. The story follows an aging country singer (played by Bridges) coping with the rise to fame of his younger protege (played by Farrell). Gyllenhaal plays a reporter that develops a relationship with Bridges' character, while Duvall plays his mentor.

Cooper, Duvall, Judy Cairo and Rob Carliner produced the film, which was packaged and sold by ICM, which also handled the financing.

Cooper and Duvall both appear in indie "Get Low," which has already been announced as premiering at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, where indieWIRE recently speculated "Crazy Heart" might join it.