Billy Crystal is attached to star in Winter’s Discontent as a widower who moves into a reputed active adult community in hopes of reinvigorating his sex life. Frank Oz will direct the comedy. Sony Pictures will distribute the film domestically and has also acquired rights in select international territories. Sierra Pictures will finance the film and Sierra/Affinity will handle additional foreign sales on the title in Cannes. The announcement was jointly made today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Steve Bersch, president of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, Atlas’ Charles Roven, and Sierra/Affinity’s CEO Nick Meyer.
Written by Paul Fruchbom, Winter’s Discontent was featured on Hollywood’s “The Black List,” famously comprised of highly anticipated screenplays.
Winter’s Discontent will be produced by Atlas Entertainment with Charles Roven and Alex Gartner serving as producers. Executive producers are Nick Meyer, Marc Schaberg, Kelly McCormick and Jake Kurily.
Commenting on the announcement, Roven said, “We’re thrilled by the way this project is coming together. We are big believers in the humor and the emotion in this story and we think that Frank and Billy have a terrific take on the material that will connect with audiences everywhere.”
Sam Dickerman is overseeing the project for Columbia Pictures.
The acquisition deals were negotiated by Columbia Pictures’ President of Worldwide Business Affairs and Operations Andrew Gumpert and SPWA’s Executive Vice President of Business Affairs Michael Helfand. Sierra’s Marc Schaberg negotiated on behalf of the company with Atlas’ Alex Gartner and Richard Thompson of Bloom, Hergott representing Atlas Entertainment.
BILLY CRYSTAL most recently starred opposite Bette Midler in the box office hit Parental Guidance. He will next be heard reprising his Monsters Inc. voice role as Mike Wazowski in Monsters University, to be released on June 21. A comedy legend, Crystal earned three Golden Globe nominations for his roles in When Harry Met Sally…, City Slickers, and Mr. Saturday Night, has won six Emmy Awards, and has hosted the Academy Awards๏ฟฝ nine times, most recently in 2012. His many other films include roles in Running Scared, The Princess Bride, Throw Momma from the Train, Forget Paris, Analyze This, and Analyze That, among many others. As a director, he was nominated for a DGA Award for his film 61*. Also a successful author, on September 10, 2013 Crystal will publish a humorous memoir on aging, entitled STILL FOOLIN’ EM. Crystal is represented by CAA and managed by David Steinberg and Larry Brezner.
FRANK OZ previously directed The Muppets Take Manhattan, Little Shop of Horrors, What About Bob?, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, House Sitter, Indian in the Cupboard, In & Out, Bowfinger, The Score, The Stepford Wives, and Death at a Funeral. Oz is represented by CAA.
About Atlas Entertainment
Atlas Entertainment, led by founder Charles Roven, is built on a stellar reputation of creative collaboration, innovation and fiscal responsibility. With an expertise in producing blockbuster films as well as critically acclaimed independent features, Atlas Entertainment’s films have generated billions of dollars in revenues. Roven most recently reteamed with Christopher Nolan, serving as a producer on The Dark Knight Rises, the third and final installment of The Dark Knight Trilogy, and is also a producer on Man of Steel, the Superman reboot film directed by Zack Snyder set for release on June 14th, 2013. Atlas Entertainment recently wrapped production on David O. Russell’s American Hustle starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence. Atlas Entertainment has produced such tentpole films as The Dark Knight and Get Smart, in addition to such indie successes as the 2008 British crime thriller The Bank Job. Additional past film credits include Batman Begins, Th
