LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Image Entertainment, an RLJ Entertainment (Nasdaq:RLJE) brand, has acquired all U.S. rights at the American Film Market to the action film Drive Hard starring John Cusack (The Number Station, 2012) and Thomas Jane (The Punisher). Drive Hard recently finished production in Australia and is set for a theatrical release in 2014. The film is directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith from a screenplay by Chad Law and Evan Law. Bill Bromiley, Image Entertainment's Chief Acquisitions Officer, made the announcement today.
"We're thrilled to have another opportunity to work with John Cusack," says Bromiley. "The Numbers Station was a great acquisition for us, bringing us much success. This action film pushes limits, engaging audiences to new levels."
Drive Hard centers on a former race car driver turned driver's training instructor (Jane) who is abducted by a mysterious thief (Cusack) and forced to be the wheelman for a crime that puts both in the sights of the cops and the mob and leads them all on a chase across Australia's Gold Coast.
The deal was negotiated by Bromiley, Mark Ward and Michael Bayer on behalf of Image Entertainment, and Network Pictures' Dan Grodnick on behalf of the filmmakers.
Recent Image Entertainment releases include The Numbers Station with John Cusack and Malin Akerman, The Colony with Laurence Fishburne, Bill Paxton and Kevin Zegers, Blood with Paul Bettany, Mark Strong and Brian Cox and Paradise with Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Octavia Spencer and Holly Hunter, written, directed and produced by Diablo Cody.
About RLJ Entertainment
RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq:RLJE) is a premier independent licensee and distributor of entertainment content and programming in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia with over 5,300 exclusive titles. RLJE is a leader in numerous genres via its owned and distributed brands such as Acorn (British TV), Image (feature films, stand-up comedy), One Village (urban), Acacia (fitness), Slingshot (faith), Athena (documentaries), Criterion (art films) and Madacy (gift sets). These titles are distributed in multiple formats including DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download, digital streaming, broadcast television (including satellite and cable), theatrical and non-theatrical.
Via its relationship with Agatha Christie Limited, a company that RLJE owns 64% of, RLJE manages the intellectual property and publishing rights to some of the greatest works of mystery fiction, including stories of the iconic sleuths Miss Marple and Poirot. And through its direct-to-consumer business, RLJE has direct contacts and billing relationships with millions of consumers.
RLJE leverages its management experience to acquire, distribute, and monetize existing and original content for its many distribution channels, including its nascent branded digital subscription channels, and engages distinct audiences with programming that appeals directly to their unique viewing interests. RLJE has proprietary e-commerce web sites for the Acorn and Acacia brands, and owns the recently launched Acorn TV digital subscription service.