The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from Gaumont all rights to UNTOUCHABLE, the French language film produced by Quad Films. The deal covers all rights in North America, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, South Africa, China and distribution rights for pan-Asian satellite TV. TWC also has remake rights, to co-finance and co-produce an English language remake with Gaumont and the film’s original producers Quad Films. The announcement was made by TWC’s Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions Peter Lawson.
UNTOUCHABLE is directed by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, produced by Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Yann Zenou and Laurent Zeitoun, and written by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. It stars acclaimed actor François Cluzet (IN THE BEGINNING, TELL NO ONE) and Omar Sy (THOSE HAPPY DAYS). A 2012 US theatrical release is expected.
Based on a true story, UNTOUCHABLE follows the unlikely friendship between wealthy paraplegic Philippe (Cluzet) and Driss (Sy), a guy from the street. When Philippe appoints Driss as his right-hand aide, he counts on Driss’ pitiless, strong-arm approach to keep their relationship functional and straightforward. What neither expects is the friendship that develops between the two men. Inspiring, heartbreaking and outright hilarious at points, UNTOUCHABLE follows their journey of self discovery, as both men uncover aspects of themselves that they never would have believed existed.