Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios has shelled out $4 million for North American rights to “Replicas,” a thriller with Keanu Reeves and “Silicon Valley” star Thomas Middleditch, Variety has confirmed.
The film centers on a neuroscientist who tries to replicate his family after they die in a car accident. Reeves produced the film along with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Stephen Hamel. Jeffrey Nachmanoff (“Traitor”) is directing the movie, which also stars Alice Eve (“Star Trek: Into Darkness”) and John Ortiz (“Kong: Skull Island”). Hamel wrote the film’s story and Chad St. John is credited with the screenplay.
The deal was hammered out at the Toronto International Film Festival. The pic was screening for buyers, though it is not in competition.
Reeves had a box office dry spell post-“Matrix,” but has rebounded a bit with the “John Wick” films. Allen’s company has moved aggressively into the film space in recent years, unsuccessfully bidding for “The Birth of a Nation” at Sundance in 2016, and scoring a hit with the shark thriller “47 Meters Down.” Its upcoming releases include “Burn Your Maps” and “Friend Request.” Allen’s label is one of many new buyers — joining a group that includes Apple and Neon.
CAA and Lotus are selling the rights. Deadline first reported the sale of the film.
Source: Variety
