Press Releases

CULVER CITY, Calif., May 10, 2018 - Sony Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Jason Reitman's The Front Runner, starring Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga and J.K. Simmons it was announced today by Michael Helfand and Joe Matukewicz, Co-Heads of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, and Aaron L. Gilbert, President & CEO, BRON Studios, which produced and financed the film. A fall release, timed to awards and election coverage, is planned.

The Front Runner chronicles the rise and fall of politician Gary Hart (Jackman), who was considered the frontrunner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination when his campaign was sidelined by the story of an extramarital relationship with Donna Rice. As tabloid journalism and political journalism merged for the first time, Senator Hart was forced to drop out of the race.

Jason Reitman said, "Having grown up wandering around the Columbia lot as a kid, it is a particular thrill to bring The Front Runner back home to the first studio I can remember. I cannot wait for movie goers to see Hugh's humanist transformation into one of the more complicated political figures of our time."

Aaron L. Gilbert, President & CEO, BRON Studios said "This often overlooked moment points to the intersection where political journalism and gossip journalism drove into the same lane, and it couldn't be more timely. We are so proud of this film and the work we've been able to do with our partners Jason and Helen."

Josh Greenstein, president, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Sony Pictures, who helped bring the project in to the studio and previously handled Reitman's biggest hit Up in the Air at Paramount, said, "It is great to be working with Jason again, and this material is right in his wheelhouse. Hugh Jackman is transformative in this role."

The film also stars Mamoudou Athie, Josh Brener, Kaitlyn Dever, Tommy Dewey, Molly Ephraim, Spencer Garrett, Ari Graynor, Toby Huss, Mike Judge, Alex Karpovsky, Mark O'Brien, Sara Paxton, Kevin Pollak, and Steve Zissishe. The screenplay was written by veteran political journalist Matt Bai, former Hillary Clinton press secretary Jay Carson, and Reitman, based on Bai's 2014 book All the Truth Is Out. Reitman and Helen Estabrook produced the film through their Right of Way Films banner in partnership with BRON Studios' Gilbert, who are backed by Creative Wealth Media.

Jon Freedberg, SPWA's SVP, Content Strategy and Helfand negotiated on behalf of Sony. BRON's Anjay Nagpal and Matthew Erramouspe of O'Melveny negotiated on behalf of BRON Studios.

Endeavor Content and Bloom handled the worldwide sale.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE's Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html .

About BRON Studios
BRON, cofounded by Aaron L. Gilbert and Brenda Gilbert in 2010, is an award-winning producer and financier, working with new voices and established talents both in front of and behind the camera. The studio focuses on creating diverse stories told with powerful visuals that resonate with audiences globally. BRON's slate includes Tully directed by Jason Reitman and staring Charlize Theron in theaters now; Debra Granik's Leave No Trace set to premiere in Directors' Fortnight; and Assassination Nation due out later this year. BRON is currently in production on Greyhound starring Tom Hanks; on Fonzo, the Al Capone bio-pic starring Tom Hardy; and on The Good Liar directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon and starring Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren. BRON is headquartered in Burnaby, BC, Canada with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto.

Contact:
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Tahra Grant-Gale
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Tahra_Grant@spe.sony.com