Paramount Pictures To Distribute Chris Rock’s Top FivePosted by Wilson Morales
September 10, 2014
Paramount Pictures announced it will distribute writer / director Chris Rock’s “TOP FIVE” worldwide. The news comes as the film from producer Scott Rudin, and his IACF partner Barry Diller, earned rave reviews at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
An individual with knowledge of the negotiations told TheWrap yesterday that the two sides were close on a $12.5 million deal for the $10 million comedy, with a commitment for around $20 million in P&A spending.
“Chris and I go back decades, both personally and professionally, and so I am particularly proud to have watched his career grow to its highest heights over many decades. This film showcases brilliantly how talented Chris is as a filmmaker and storyteller and we are thrilled to be partnering with him, Scott Rudin and my longtime friend, the legendary Barry Diller and IACF for its worldwide launch,” said Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures.
In Top Five, Rock plays Andre Allen, a successful comedian and movie star who, having had his work recently savaged by a New York Times critic, is now in need of a hit. His fiancé (Gabrielle Union) wants him to help boost her reality TV show, while his agent, played by the rocket-fuelled Kevin Hart, tries to guide him to the next blockbuster. But what Andre really wants to do is make a serious, important film about the Haitian revolution. So he lets the Times back into his life, hoping to revitalize his image with a profile written by a whip-smart, irresistible journalist (Rosario Dawson). It’s the beginning of a beautiful sparring match.
The film stars Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay Pharoah. The film is produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush. The Co-Producers are Shawn “Jay Z” Carter and Kanye West; the Executive Music Producer is Questlove. Barry Diller and Scott Rudin’s IACF financed the film.
UTA negotiated the deal on behalf of the IACF and the filmmakers. The studio’s negotiating team was lead by Paramount’s SVP of Acquisition and Production Eben Davidson and Rona Cosgrove, EVP of Business Affairs.
