‘The Wailing’ Acquired By Fox International & Well Go USA; ‘American Wrestler’ Repped By Radiant – Cannes Briefs

Fox International Productions and Well Go USA have teamed to snag North American rights to The Wailing (Goksung), South Korean helmer Hong-jin Na’s thriller that will have its world premiere out of competition at this month’s Cannes Film Festival. Well Go, which acquired the Cannes pic The Assassin ahead of last year’s festival, has set May 27 U.S. release date for The Wailing, which was c0-produced and co-financed by Fox International Productions and Ivanhoe Pictures and marks Na’s first film in six years. Fox International Productions will release the film in South Korea on May 12, ahead of its May 18 fest bow. The movie centers on the arrival of a mysterious stranger in an otherwise quiet village that coincides with a rash of vicious murders, causing panic and suspicion among the villagers. When the daughter of the investigating officer falls under the same savage spell, he calls for a shaman to assist in finding the culprit.

Radiant Films International is repping foreign rights on American Wrestler: The Wizard, an inspirational sports drama starring William Fichtner, Jon Voight, Gabriel Basso, Lia Marie Johnson and newcomer George Kosturos. Alex Ranarivelo directed a script by Brian Rudnick that is inspired by true events of California high school wrestling champion Ali Afshar, who is a producer alongside Hadeel Reda. The pic will make its Cannes market premiere May 17 after its world premiere screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Forrest Lucas and Protect the Harvest are exec producers, and Ashley Michaelsen is co-producer.

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