Samuel Goldwyn Will Release Political Comedy ‘Grassroots’ Starring Jason Biggs

Samuel Goldwyn Films has bought U.S. rights to Stephen Gyllenhaal’s “Grassroots” starring Jason Biggs,  Lauren Ambrose, Tom Arnold and Cedric The Entertainer.

It’s the closing-night film of the 2012 Seattle Film Festival, which runs May 17-June 10; the film will open in theaters June 22.

Set in 2001 and inspired by true events, “Grassroots” is the story of a political neophyte (Joel David Moore) who wants to take down a Seattle councilman (Cedric the Entertainer) and moves toward victory after he hires a recently fired alt-weekly reporter (Jason Biggs) to run his campaign.

Gyllenhaal and Justin Rhodes wrote the script. The film’s producers are Peggy Rajski, Michael Huffington, Matthew R. Brady, Brent Stiefel and Peggy Case.

Ian Puente, Goldwyn’s general counsel and VP development, along with senior VP acquisisions Peter Goldwyn, negotiated the deal with Maren Olson of Traction Media and attorney Darin Frank on behalf of the filmmakers.