Neon Nabs Worldwide Rights to DuVernay's Milestone Film 'Origin' Ahead of Venice Premiere
Film distribution giant, Neon, has announced a recent acquisition that is causing waves in the industry. The company has secured worldwide rights for Ava DuVernay's film "Origin," ahead of its world premiere in the competitive line-up at the Venice Film Festival scheduled on Wednesday, September 6. The movie is set to hit the screens towards the end of 2023.
"Origin" marks a significant milestone in the history of the Venice Film Festival. Its director, Ava DuVernay, will become the first African-American female director to premiere a film in competition in the festival’s eight-decade history.
DuVernay multi-tasked in producing, directing, and scripting the highly-anticipated biopic that chronicles the life and endeavours of Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson. The narrative zeroes in on Wilkerson's journey of penning her landmark book "Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents." The film provides an intimate look into her life as she steers through intense personal turmoil while embarking on a global exploration to produce one of America’s defining literary opuses.
The film showcases a star-studded cast including Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, Finn Wittrock, Jasmine Cephas-Jones, and Connie Nielsen.
Neon CEO and Founder, Tom Quinn, expressed his admiration for DuVernay and her craft, while highlighting the importance of "Origin." He took pride in the collaborative effort that has resulted in a compelling mix of biography and adaptation based on Wilkerson's remarkable life and influential book.
"Origin" is produced under DuVernay’s ARRAY Filmworks banner by her and co-producer Paul Garnes. Accompanying them is a group of industry veterans and award-nominated talents, offering their skills to create what is anticipated to be a major cinematic release.
The deal between Neon and the filmmakers was overseen and negotiated by Tom Quinn and CAA Media Finance respectively. DuVernay, reflecting on her experience with "Origin," mentioned how the film's creation has profoundly impacted her perception of her work, life, and relationships. She credited this transformation to the engaging collaboration with a uniquely gifted cast and crew.
Now, did anyone say 'la dolce vita'? Isn't Venice catching all the early Oscar fever? The industry's Bastille Day of sorts, perhaps - a revolution brewing on Italian grounds. Origin might be the new 'Moneyball' - underdogs we ignored, the narrative we didn't think was sexy enough, coming to bite us back with a rendezvous of painfully witty writing and masterful acting.
Let's give Neon a tip of the hat for their savvy business move. Roping in a content goldmine so early that most studios are probably still rubbing their eyes, wondering if it's just their caffeine-deprived morning still playing tricks. Neon seems to understand what Henry Ford once said "The competitor to be feared is one who never bothers about you at all, but goes on making his own business better all the time."
And DuVernay? Her meteoric rise seems to hold a mirror to Wilkerson herself- breaking barriers and stashing milestones in her back pocket like it was a casual stroll down Hollywood Boulevard. Not just a savant, but a righteous maverick spearheading the purveyance of stories untold, voices unheard. If the Oscars provided statues for coruscating tenacity, she'd be dropping golden boys on her way to the grocery store.
As we edge closer to the premiere, keep your popcorn and armchair film critiques ready. "Origin" is racing to the checkered flag and the world's temporary cinematic capital, Venice, is all set to roar: Lights! Camera! Revolution!
