Lionsgate signs pact with Endemol India.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: The Academy Award-nominated sports film Warrior has been optioned for a Hindi remake, to be co-produced jointly by the original film’s distributor, Lionsgate, and Eyedentity Motion Pictures, a subsidiary banner of Endemol India.
The original film, released in 2011, tells the story of two estranged brothers, played by Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) and Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty), who grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood near Pittsburgh. The former becomes a mixed martial artist to make ends meet, while the latter is a school teacher and former fighter who gets back in the ring to help provide for his wife and young daughter.
The boys’ father – played by Nick Nolte (Hulk), who received an Oscar nomination for his work – trains Hardy’s character, and in the process becomes closer to the son he drove away as an abusive alcoholic earlier in life. Eventually, the two brothers find themselves facing each other in the mixed martial arts final, and must come to terms with their pasts and each other.
The film garnered largely positive reviews, but stalled at the box office, finding a second life on DVD and Blu-ray. But now, both distribution companies involved with the deal to adapt the film for Indian audiences are hoping that the story of family, love, and sports can ignite a spark on the other side of the world.
“Warrior is the kind of locally produced property based on timeless themes that we expect to resonate with mainstream commercial audiences in India. And our partnership with Endemol’s Eyedentity Motion Pictures will bring valuable local expertise to our venture,” said Andrew Kramer, Lionsgate Chief Operating Officer (COO) of international distribution.
Endemol India is the company behind some of the biggest television programs in India, such as “Khatron Ke Khiladi,” “Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star,” and “Bigg Boss.” Lionsgate Studios has a few big properties of its own, namely the “Hunger Games” franchise, which has grossed around $2 billion worldwide with just two films.
Reports indicate that casting for the Warrior remake is currently underway, although no names have been announced. A budget is also being kept under wraps, as are the terms of the partnership and sale of the remake rights. The film is scheduled to go into production in December of this year, with a release, presumably in late 2015 or early 2016.
Sports films have seen a sudden increase in popularity with Indian audiences. The biggest recent example was last year’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which told the “based on a true story” tale of Milkha Singh. The film was an enormous box-office success and won several of the industry’s top awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Director, Actor (for Farhan Akhtar) and Picture.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com