February 6, 2020–Searchlight Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to David Bruckner’s psychological thriller The Night House after its successful world premiere as part of the Midnight program of the 2020 Sundance Film Fest.
Based on an original screenplay by Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski (who had penned Stephanie), The Night House follows a widow (Rebecca Hall) who begins to uncover her recently deceased husband’s disturbing secrets.
Bruckner returns to Sundance with this film, having most recently premiered his first solo-directorial feature, The Ritual, at the 2017 Toronto Film Fest.
The Night House was financed and produced by Sébastien Raybaud’s company, Anton.
David Goyer’s Phantom Four developed the script, and also produced.
The producers are Phantom Four’s David Goyer (THE DARK KNIGHT), and Keith Levine (47 METERS DOWN), and Anton’s John Zois (HOTEL ARTEMIS). Executive Producers are David Bruckner, François Callens, Ben Collins, Rebecca Hall, George Paaswell, Luke Piotrowski, and Anton founder Sébastien Raybaud.
“The Night House instantly drew us in,” said Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula. “David Bruckner’s masterful direction creates an unrelenting suspense thriller anchored by an astonishing performance by Rebecca Hall.”
“Searchlight is a beacon of quality and inspired curation. To be working with them on THE NIGHT HOUSE is nothing short of a dream come true,” said Bruckner.
“This is the perfect home for this film. Searchlight’s exemplary taste and their global campaigns are masterful,” added Anton’s founder Sébastien Raybaud.
“For a challenging, layered and lingering film like THE NIGHT HOUSE, we couldn’t be in better hands,” said Phantom Four’s Keith Levine. “We are thrilled to bring the film into the Searchlight family.”
Credits:
THE NIGHT HOUSE features a musical score by Ben Lovett (THE SIGNAL), editing by David Marks (THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO), cinematography by Elisha Christian (COLUMBUS) and costumes by Samantha Hawkins (JONATHAN). The deal was brokered by Searchlight Pictures’ EVP Business Affairs Megan O’Brien, SVP Acquisitions Chan Phung and SVP Legal Affairs Ben Wilkinson, with Endeavor Content and Sébastien Raybaud of Anton. THE NIGHT HOUSE is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2020.
Searchlight Pictures recently released Radio Silence’s hit horror-comedy Ready Or Not, which grossed nearly $60 million worldwide, and will soon unveil Scott Cooper’s supernatural horror thriller ANTLERS starring Keri Russell on April 17, 2020.
With THE NIGHT HOUSE, the trio of films mark a return to acclaimed genre filmmaking hearkening back to the company’s 2002 breakout hit 28 DAYS LATER, directed by Danny Boyle.
SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
Searchlight Pictures is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, having recently released Taika Waititi’s JOJO RABBIT, nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Upcoming releases include Benh Zeitlin’s WENDY, Nat Faxon ad Jim Rash’s DOWNHILL, Scott Cooper’s ANTLERS, Armando Iannucci’s THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD, Wes Anderson’s THE FRENCH DISPATCH, Michael Showalter’s THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, Taika Waititi’s NEXT GOAL WINS, Chloe Zhao’s NOMADLAND, and Guillermo del Toro’s NIGHTMARE ALLEY.
Searchlight Pictures is a specialty film company that both finances and acquires motion pictures. It has its own marketing and distribution operations, and is part of The Walt Disney Studios.
ABOUT ANTON
Founded by Sébastien Raybaud in 2011, Anton is a global content provider of commercial, high-quality product across multiple platforms. The company has co-financed international hit features such as the PADDINGTON franchise; NON-STOP; and SHAUN THE SHEEP. Recent television co-financing projects include the BBC/HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials.” In addition to THE NIGHT HOUSE, starring Rebecca Hall, Anton’s film production arm includes titles such as GREENLAND, starring Gerard Butler; NAKED SINGULARITY, starring John Boyega; COME CLOSER, to be directed by David Slade, and the upcoming animated feature FIREHEART from the producers of BALLERINA.
ABOUT PHANTOM FOUR
In addition to the THE NIGHT HOUSE, upcoming releases for production company Phantom Four, founded by David S. Goyer and run by Keith Levine, include THE TOMORROW WAR for Skydance/Paramount on Christmas Day with Chris Pratt and J.K. Simmons starring and Chris McKay directing and ANTLERS, directed by Scott Cooper, produced alongside Guillermo Del Toro and starring Keri Russell, which is set to bow in April from Searchlight Pictures. Other upcoming titles include a reboot of HELLRAISER with Spyglass, An OMEN prequel with 20th Century Studios, and original action thriller ROGUE with STX/Tencent.
On the TV side, Goyer is currently in production on Apple/Skydance’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s FOUNDATION, starring Jared Harris and Lee Pace, on which he serves as showrunner and EP. In addition, Goyer is EP and co-writer on Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s SANDMAN.
