Amazon Studios’ expanding film arm has teamed with Bleeker Street to acquire US right to Elvis & Nixon, starring Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey.
Bleeker Street will handle the film’s theatrical release in 2016, which will be followed by a digital rollout on Amazon Prime Instant Video around four to eight weeks later.
Although this distribution plan shortens the traditional theatrical window, it’s not as extreme as Netflix’s day-and-date strategy for original films.
Bloom is handling international sales on the film, which reportedly sold for around $4m. The deal was negotiated by CAA and Cassian Elwes, who is one of the producers along with Holly Wiersma.
Directed by Liza Johnson, the film revolves around a true-life incident in the 1970s when Presley requested a meeting with Nixon to offer his services as an undercover agent. Shannon plays Presley with Spacey as Nixon. The film wrapped earlier this year.
Headed by veteran producer Ted Hope, Amazon Original Movies plans to replicate in the film space the success that Amazon has achieved in TV production with Golden Globe-winning drama Transparent.
Amazon’s movie arm is also understood to be partially financing Terry Gilliam’s long-gestating The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and working with Jim Jarmusch.