RLJ ENTERTAINMENT Acquires Paul Schrader’s “Dog Eat Dog” with Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe
“A thoroughly disreputable, sordid and engaging crime drama.”
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25, 2016 – RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) has acquired all North American rights to the highly anticipated action thriller DOG EAT DOG. Based on the novel by Edward Bunker, DOG EAT DOG was written by Matthew Wilder (Your Name Here) and directed by Paul Schrader (Affliction, American Gigolo, Taxi Driver). The film stars Nicolas Cage (Snowden, Leaving Las Vegas), Willem Dafoe (Justice League, Platoon) and Christopher Matthew Cook (2 Guns). The film first premiered at the 69th Cannes Film Festival to great reviews and will have its North American premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival in September. At a press event in Cannes, Schrader described Dog Eat Dog as “nasty, evil and a lot of fun.”
The deal was negotiated by Mark Ward on behalf of RLJ Entertainment and Mark Earl Burman of ADME on behalf of the filmmakers. RLJE plans to release DOG EAT DOG in theaters and On Demand in November 2016. Ward, RLJE’s Chief Acquisitions Officer, made the announcement today.
“The legendary Paul Schrader once again uses his relentless talent and vision to create amazing cinema,” said Ward. “Shot with a distinct point-of-view, Cage and Dafoe bring their absolute best to showcase the rawness and grittiness of this incredible film.”
DOG EAT DOG tells the story of three ex-cons who botch a kidnapping. They not only lose a rich payoff, but they get on the wrong side of the mob and become the city’s most wanted fugitives. Vowing to stay out of prison at all costs, things get completely out of control as they go on the run from everyone.
DOG EAT DOG is produced by Mark Earl Burman (South Bureau Homicide), Gary Hamilton (Lord of War), Brian Beckmann (The Courier), and David Hillary (London) and is executive produced by Jeremy Rosen (The Family), Jeff Caperton (Piranha Sharks), Barney Burman (Tropic Thunder), Ray Mansfield (And So It Goes), Shaun Redick (And So It Goes), Donald Rivers (Piranha Sharks), Michael McClung (Zombiefield), and Tim Peternel (London). Jeanne Fields acted as executor of the Edward Bunker estate.
ABOUT RLJ ENTERTAINMENT
RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) is an entertainment content distribution company in primarily North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. RLJE’s titles are distributed in multiple formats including broadcast television (including satellite and cable), theatrical and non-theatrical, DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download, and digital streaming.
With its popular OTT branded channels, Acorn TV (British TV) and UMC (Urban Movie Channel), RLJE targets distinct, premium audiences and Urban niche audiences. The company grows its proprietary digital channels through development, acquisition, and distribution of exclusive rights of program franchises and feature film content.
Through Acorn Media Enterprises, its UK development arm, RLJE owns all rights to the hit UK mystery series Foyle’s War and is developing new programs. RLJE owns 64% of Agatha Christie Limited, which manages the intellectual property and publishing rights to some of the greatest works of mystery fiction, including stories of the iconic sleuths Miss Marple and Poirot. Through its proprietary e-commerce web sites for the Acorn brand in North America and the UK, the company also has direct contacts and billing relationships with millions of consumers.
For more information, please visit RLJEntertainment.com, Acorn.TV, and UrbanMovieChannel.com.
RLJ Entertainment’s recent feature films include Bone Tomahawk starring Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox and Richard Jenkins and written & directed by S. Craig Zahler; Criminal Activities with John Travolta, Michael Pitt and Dan Stevens and directed by Jackie Earle Haley; The Cobbler with Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi and directed by Academy Award Winner Tom McCarthy; and Nina starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo and directed by Cynthia Mort. www.us.rljentertainment.com.
