XYZ Films and Sundance Selects announced today that all domestic rights for the UNTITLED DELOREAN DOCUMENTARY have been picked up by Sundance Selects. The film is directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce (“The Art of the Steal,” “Last Days Here,” “Batman & Bill”) and produced by Tamir Ardon, XYZ Films and 9.14 Pictures and backed by Ingenious. Production is currently under way, with filming spanning the globe from Italy and the U.K. to Belfast – site of the original DeLorean Motor Car factory. XYZ is handling worldwide sales with talks currently underway for a multi-territory deal with a major studio distributor.
The deal for domestic rights was brokered by Arianna Bocco, EVP of Acquisitions and Production for Sundance Selects/IFC Films, and by Nate Bolotin of XYZ on behalf of XYZ Films and 9.14 Pictures.
The film details the rise and fall of iconic automobile maker John Z. DeLorean, told through the eyes of family, colleagues and competing Hollywood filmmakers who have struggled to bring his story to the big screen. Never before seen archival footage as well as new interviews with family, friends, and professional associates tell the tale of one of the most flamboyant, eclectic, and complicated automotive mavericks of the 20th Century.
Says 9.14 Pictures, “John DeLorean’s life played out like a Hollywood film, and we’re excited to take a unique approach to bring his incredible, true story to the screen. We are thrilled to partner with old friends XYZ Films and Sundance Selects to finally tell the complete, complicated, and compelling story of DeLorean.”
Ardon is a DeLorean historian and began development on the documentary in 2005 following DeLorean’s death.
Says Ardon, “DeLorean’s story is one that is still woefully misunderstood. We intend to take advantage of recently released documents by the US Federal Government, as well as the British Government, to piece together the definitive John DeLorean story.”
Added Sundance Selects: “It is our joy and privilege to be working once more with Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce after previously releasing ‘Slow Learners,’ ‘Last Days Here’ and ‘The Art of the Steal.’ They are superlative filmmakers in the documentary world who have an incredible talent for delivering stories with complexity and empathy. We’re also excited to be working again with XYZ Films and 9.14 Pictures to help share John DeLorean’s captivating life and legacy.”
Several members of the DeLorean family are participating, including John’s children – Zachary and Kathryn, as well as John’s brother and nephew.
9.14 Pictures has most recently produced the Hulu documentary “Batman & Bill,” and is also known for the documentaries “The Art of the Steal” and “Last Days Here.”
Along with “Apostle,” directed by Gareth Evans and staring Dan Stevens, XYZ Films is currently producing and handling sales for a number of titles including “I Kill Giants” staring Zoe Saldana and Imogen Poots and “Sweet Virginia,” starring Poots, Jon Bernthal and Christopher Abbott. They handled sales on several films at AFM, including Baltasar Kormakur’s Icelandic thriller “The Oath.” XYZ also just wrapped production on the Anthony Scott Burns thriller, “Our House,” which stars Thomas Mann and Nicola Peltz, and is currently in production on Brian Taylor’s thriller, “Mon and Dad,” starring Nicolas Cage. XYZ is also selling the new action film from S.Craig Zahler, “Brawl in Cell Block 99,” which will star Vince Vaughn and Don Johnson.
