Bella Thorne Romantic Drama ‘Midnight Sun’ Bought by Open Road
Open Road has bought U.S. rights to Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger’s romantic drama “Midnight Sun” and set a July 24 release date.
Thorne plays a 17-year-old who’s been sheltered since childhood with a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. Her world opens up after dark when she ventures out to play her guitar for travelers. One night, she meets an ex-high school athlete (played by Schwarzenegger) she’s secretly admired for years and embarks on a romance while hiding her condition from him.
Rob Riggle plays her father. The film also stars Quinn Shephard.
The movie is based on the Japanese film “Taiyō no Uta.” Scott Speer (“Step Up Revolution”) directs from the screenplay by Eric Kirsten.
John Rickard, Zack Schiller, and Jen Gatien are producers. David Boies, James McGough, Alan Ou, Hiroki Shirota, and Speer are the executive producers. Katie Silberman and Devin Andre are co-producers.
Boies and Schiller financed and produced the film alongside Rickard’s Wrigley Pictures. David Garrett’s Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales.
“We were swept off our feet by this romantic film,” said Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg. “The movie had men and women — young and old — in tears, and we could tell immediately how strongly this story, and the fantastic performances by leads Bella and Patrick, would resonate with audiences of all ages.”
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Ortenberg, Elliott Kleinberg, and Lejo Pet.
Thorne is represented by CAA and Thor Bradwell at Thirty Three Management. Schwarzenegger is represented by Management 360. Riggle is represented by WME and Principato Young. Scott Speer is represented by WME and Principato Young.
WME Global and Sky Moore at Stroock & Strook & Lavan represented Boies and Schiller in the sale. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
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