21/05/2010

Gareth Edwards’ debut feature Monsters has been a hit at the Cannes Market for London-based Protagonist Pictures, selling to around 15 territories.

Positive word of mouth began on the sci-fi drama when it premiered at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival in March, where Magnolia snapped up rights for North America and Mexico. Written and directed by Edwards, it tells the story of a NASA probe on its way back to Earth with samples of an alien life form on board. It crashes over Central America and soon after new life forms begin to appear and half of Mexico is quarantined. A photojournalist attempts to escort an American tourist through the infected zone to the safety of the US border.

The leads are played by Scoot McNairy (In Search of a Midnight Kiss) and Whitney Able (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane). The film is produced by Allan Niblo and James Richardson for Vertigo Films, which will also handle the theatrical release in the UK and Ireland.

Protagonist Pictures has sold the film to Germany (Square One Entertainment), France ( SND), Italy (FilmAuro), Benelux (A-Film Distribution), Spain (Avalon), Scandinavia (Scanbox Entertainment), Switzerland (Impuls), Japan (The Clockworx), CIS (Timur Bekmambetov and Film Depot), the Middle East (Front Row Entertainment), and Australia/New Zealand (Madman).