Upstart Shingle Radius Acquires Redo Rights To Nic Refn’s ‘Pusher’: Berlin

Weinstein Co Names New Shingle Radius, Acquires Sundance Comedy ‘Bachelorette’

This is the second deal for Tom Quinn and Jason Janego’s Radius after they acquired the Sundance comedy Bachelorette. Here they will release the remake of Pusher, the 1996 debut film by Drive helmer Nicolas Winding Refn. The film’s about a London drug pusher grows increasingly desperate over the course of a week after a botched deal leaves him with a large debt to a ruthless drug lord.

New York, NY, February 9, 2012 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that its new label, Radius-TWC, has acquired from Gaumont the U.S. and Caribbean basin distribution rights to PUSHER, an English-language remake of the 1996 cult hit directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (DRIVE) and written by Refn and Jens Dahl. Refn was closely involved in the production of the remake, which is directed by award-winning young filmmaker Luis Prieto (BAMBOLEHO) and written by Matthew Read. PUSHER is produced by Rupert Preston for Vertigo Films, and by Christopher Simon and Felix Vossen for Embargo Films. Nicolas Winding Refn is the executive producer. The announcement was made by Radius-TWC Co-Presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego.

PUSHER stars Richard Coyle (W.E.), model/actress Agyness Deyn (CLASH OF THE TITANS), Bronson Webb (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES), Mem Ferda (THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE), and Zlatko Buric, who reprises his original PUSHER role of Milo. The groundbreaking electronic duo Orbital is scoring the film; the duo’s new studio album, its first in eight years, will be released in April. Radius-TWC plans to release PUSHER in late 2012.

With the acquisition of the new PUSHER, Radius Co-Presidents Quinn and Janego are returning to a project they first championed during their tenure at Magnolia Pictures, where they acquired Refn’s entire PUSHER trilogy for U.S. distribution.

Commented Quinn and Janego, “This acquisition is a rare and wonderful instance of lightning striking twice. We’re very proud to have brought the original PUSHER to American audiences, and we’re excited to reprise our role as distributors with Luis Prieto’s sexy English reboot. Richard Coyle and Agyness Deyn are a sizzling hot duo, and having Zlatko Buric back in the role he originated is an amazing treat. PUSHER is no ordinary remake, and we think it speaks volumes that Nicolas Widing Refn has given the completed film his whole-hearted blessing.”

Said producer Preston, “Pusher has a vibe, energy and vision that audiences will love. We could think of no better company than Radius/TWC to launch it in the US.”

The deal was negotiated for Radius-TWC by Quinn and Janego; and by Cécile Gaget, Head of Gaumont International, on behalf of the producers.