Sony In Talks to Secure Rights to Festival Favorite 'Daddio' with Penn, Johnson
Sony Pictures Classics is in exclusive negotiations to secure rights to Daddio, a film directed by Christy Hall and starring acclaimed actors Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson, sources exclusively revealed. The film has emerged as a crowd favorite following its premiere at both the Telluride and Toronto film festivals. If negotiations are successful, Sony Pictures are set to procure distribution rights for North America, Latin America, and substantial sectors throughout Europe and Asia.
Hall, who co-created the popular series, 'I Am Not Okay With This', is making her directorial debut on the big screen with Daddio. Set predominantly within a taxi cab, the story unfolds around a driver and his passenger, portrayed by Penn and Johnson respectively, who engage in increasingly revelatory discourse throughout a traffic-infested journey from JFK to central Manhattan.
Penn, an Oscar-winning actor, takes on the role of the taxi driver who facilitates the deepening dialogues, as Johnson, his passenger, wrestles with the moral implications of her extramarital affair. Behind the wheel, Penn's character offers wisdom derived from lived experiences similar to the ones reflected on his aged taxi. Meanwhile, the intimate conversation also prompts Penn's character to introspect on aspects of his own life.
Throughout their discourse, the driver refrains from passing judgment, hinting at the reasons why he's driving a taxi late into the evening instead of enjoying familial time. Both Telluride and Toronto audiences have enthusiastically acclaimed Daddio as one of Penn’s finest performances in recent years. Despite his major commitments with his humanitarian organization CORE and his directorial ventures, Penn has excelled in his acting prowess. Johnson’s portrayal also received high praises from her position in the backseat of the cab.
Daddio is represented by CAA Media Finance and WME Independent. Its production is handled by Hercules Film Fund, TeaTime Pictures, First Love Films, Raindrop Valley, Projected Picture Works, and Rhea Films. The movie was produced by Hall, Johnson, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Ro Donnelly, Terry Dougas, and Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis with Jean-Luc De Fanti, Max Work, Kostas Tsoukalas, and Christopher Donnelly serving as executive producers.
Now that we’ve navigated the tell-tale traffic of news, let's park at the curb of commentary and explore behind the scenes.
The acquisition negotiations by Sony Pictures bring forth an interesting retrospection on the ongoing changing dynamics of Hollywood. It seems the world is shrinking, or rather, the embrace of Hollywood is ever widening, as it aims to secure rights not just for North and Latin America, but also Europe and considerable parts of Asia.
Making a feature film directorial debut is no small feat, but Christy Hall is no novice in the realm of storytelling. Having proven her prowess with the successful series, 'I Am Not Okay With This,' her venture into full-length films is welcomed with open arms. With Johnson and Penn helming her story and a script said to be “razor sharp,” Hall may just have carved out a niche for herself.
Penn’s performance in Daddio is said to be one of his best acting work in a long time. That's no casual remark, considering Penn's career is a treasure chest of phenomenal roles. Here's to hoping this film rekindles Penn’s acting vigor amid his continuing humanitarian pursuits. And let's not forget Johnson - she’s more than just the lady in the backseat; she's front and center in audience’s hearts.
Daddio, above all, promises to be a thrilling traffic-snarled cinematic journey that might just give ‘Taxi Driver’ a run for its cab fare. Let’s enjoy the ride!
