Cannes: Image Entertainment Acquires Nicolas Cage Thriller ‘Tokarev’

CANNES, France, May 15, 2013 – Image Entertainment, an RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand, has acquired all US and Canadian rights to Hannibal Classics’ new action-thriller Tokarev, starring Nicolas Cage. Tokarev (working title) is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2014. The deal was announced today by Image Entertainment’s Chief Acquisitions Officer, Bill Bromiley.

“We are excited to add this action-thriller to our slate next year,” said Bromiley. “Nicolas Cage elevates the film to new heights, reaching a wider audience not only domestically but internationally as well.”

Tokarev begins physical production in Alabama in June. Hannibal Classics’ sales division will handle worldwide sales and will be selling the film in Cannes.

“Our experience with Image Entertainment has always been positive,” says Hannibal Classics’ CEO and Tokarev Producer, Richard Rionda Del Castro. “The commitment of their key executives to aggressively distribute Hannibal Classics and Hannibal Pictures’ films makes us all winners. We are thrilled they have teamed with us once again and with equal dedication to Tokarev.”

Tokarev marks Spanish Director Paco Cabezas’ American debut. Final casting is underway. Joining Rionda Del Castro as Producer is Michael Mendelsohn. Executive Producers are Nicolas Cage, Patricia Eberle, Mike Nilon, Hayley Magouirk, Jim Agnew, Sean Keller, Cam Cannon, Martin J. Barab and Frederico Lapenda.

Tokarev tells the story of Paul Maguire (Cage), a former criminal in search of his daughter’s kidnappers.

The deal was negotiated by Bromiley, Mark Ward and Michael Bayer on behalf of Image Entertainment and on behalf of Hannibal Classics by Rionda Del Castro and Martin J. Barab of Hamrick & Evans, LLP.

Tokarev is being financed by Union Patriot Capital Management, LLC., a film finance company with a large lending capacity, and produced by Michael Mendelsohn who was the former head of BNP Paribas Entertainment Media Group which specialized in financing motion pictures such as Reservoir Dogs, Red Rock West, Air Force One, Underworld, Analyze This, What Women Want, and Lord of War, which also starred Nicolas Cage.