Oscilloscope Acquires Venice Competition Entry ‘The Universal Theory’ for U.S. (Exclusive)

Oscilloscope Laboratories, the distribution company set up by late Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch, has acquired U.S. rights to The Universal Theory, which recently premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival (as the title The Theory of Everything). A theatrical release is planned for 2024.

From director Timm Kröger, the German drama is set in 1962 at a quantum mechanics conference in an isolated lodge nestled amid the towering landscapes of the Swiss Alps, and is the story of a gifted young physicist, his curmudgeonly mentor and an enigmatic jazz pianist who knows things about our wunderkind scientist that he’s never told another living soul. As the description goes, the film is “driven by astonishing twists, improbable coincidences and Hitchcockian suspense,” and “considers the metaverse theory from a refreshingly intelligent point of view.”

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The main cast includes Jan Bülow, Olivia Ross, Hanns Zischler, Gottfried Breitfuss, David Bennent, Philippe Graber and Imogen Kogge.

“We are incredibly excited to have found a partner in O-Scope who understands and cherishes our film in all its bits and pieces,” said Kröger. “The Universal Theory is many things, but first and foremost it’s a journey into a cinematic netherworld that is both uncannily familiar and uniquely strange. We are confident that this film is in good hands with them and look forward to being a part of their magnificent portfolio.”

The Universal Theory was produced by Heino Deckert, Viktoria Stolpe, Kröger, Tina Börner, Lixi Frank, David Bohun, Sarah Born, Rajko Jazbec and Dario Schoch; with a screenplay by Roderick Warich and Kröger; cinematography by Roland Stuprich; production design by Cosima Vellenzer; editing by Jann Anderegg; and music by Diego Ramos Rodriguez.

“The Universal Theory is a real movie-movie! The kind of old-Hollywood cinematic storytelling — fun, flighty, epic, emotional all in equal measure — that can only come from outside of Hollywood these days,” said O-Scope president Dan Berger. “No facet is left unconsidered from the striking cinematography to the grandiose orchestral score, but for a film composed of so many special parts, nothing gets lost in the whole. We’re elated to work with Timm and the entire filmmaking team to bend audiences’ minds.”

The deal was negotiated by Anonymous Content on behalf of the filmmakers. Charades is handling international sales.

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