'The Voices' Starring Ryan Reynolds Lands at Lionsgate

Mar 5, 2014 by Brian Gallagher

Lionsgate has acquired the US distribution rights to the 2014 Sundance Premiere Section entry The Voices, directed by Marjane Satrapi and written by Michael R. Perry. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, and Jacki Weaver.

The Voices was produced by Matthew Rhodes, Adi Shankar, Roy Lee and Spencer Silna. The film is presented by Lionsgate and 1984 Private Defense Contractors and is a Mandalay Vision, Studio Babelsberg and Vertigo Entertainment production.

The Voices is a genre-bending film which centers around Jerry, a lovable but disturbed factory worker who yearns for the attention of a woman in accounting. When their relationship takes a sudden turn, we follow Jerry's perspective as his talking pets, a sinister cat and benevolent dog, lead him down a fantastical, murderous path.

Director Marjane Satrapi had this to say about the acquisition in a brief statement.

"I am very excited and happy that Lionsgate is distributing my film. I know my baby is in great hands."

Producers Rhodes, Shankar added their own statement.

"We are really pleased to have made what's been called the ultimate WTF horror comedy at Sundance. With their impressive ability to champion such bold, genre bending pictures, we know Lionsgate is the perfect home for this film."

Satrapi previously directed Persepolis based on her best-selling graphic novel, which was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Jury Prize in Cannes. Her film Chicken with Plums premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The Voices is her first English language film.

The acquisition was negotiated by Jason Constantine, Lionsgate's President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, along with Eda Kowan, Lionsgate's SVP of Acquisitions, and Wendy Jaffe, Lionsgate's EVP of Business and Legal Affairs; and by CAA and UTA Independent Film Group, along with Loeb and Loeb, on behalf of the filmmakers and producers. Panorama Media's Kim Fox handled international sales for the film.

The Voices comes to theaters in 2014 and stars Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, Ryan Reynolds, Jacki Weaver, Gulliver McGrath, Stephanie Vogt, Adi Shankar, Ella Smith. The film is directed by Marjane Satrapi.