THL finally gets a US distributor

After the film premiered in Venice and Toronto Summit Entertainment has picked up the film for US distribution.

Summit to unlock 'Hurt Locker' in U.S.
Kathryn Bigelow Iraq War actioner marks big Toronto deal
By Gregg Goldstein and Steven Zeitchik

Sept 10, 2008
Summit Entertainment has picked up U.S. rights to Kathryn Bigelow's suspense-filled Iraq War-based actioner "The Hurt Locker," during a Toronto Film Festival that has been hurting for big sales.

The deal for the CAA repped movie closed in the early hours of Wednesday morning for a low seven-figure deal. Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes sta in Bigelow's tale of an army squad that must defuse a dangerous bomb in a crowded Iraqi city.

Buyers have been following the title since its Sept. 4 Venice Film Festival premiere in competition.

Summit and several other distributors have been in talks with the filmmakers since its Monday night Toronto bow. All hoped the film's action elements would allow it to escape the curse other Iraq War films have faced at the boxoffice.

Buyer interest in "Locker" spoke to a hunger for quality films in a marketplace, and may be the start of a late-fest flurry in sales as distributors patiently wait for prices to fall.

"This movie is not about the Iraq war. It's an action-adventure movie that happens to be set in Iraq," said Voltage Pictures producer Nic Chartier, who has sold several international territories on the film.

Gregg Goldstein reported from New York. Steven Zeitchik reported from Toronto. Borys Kit contributed to this report.