The film, which marks Elizabeth Chomko’s feature directing debut also stars Blythe Danner, Robert Forster and Taissa Farmiga.
Bleecker Street has acquired North American rights to writer-director Elizabeth Chomko’s family drama What They Had, starring Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Blythe Danner, Robert Forster and Taissa Farmiga.
The film marks Chomko’s feature directing debut and revolves around a family in crisis. Bridget (Swank) returns home to Chicago at her brother’s (Shannon) urging to deal with her mother’s (Danner) Alzheimer’s and her father’s (Forster) reluctance to let go of their life together.
Bleecker Street is planning a 2018 theatrical release.
The film was produced by Keith Kjarval, Bill Holderman, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, Alex Saks and Andrew Duncan.
Chomko wrote the Nicholl-winning screenplay. Production recently wrapped in Chicago and Los Angeles.
“I was incredibly moved by Elizabeth’s story of a family working through their collective issues and the heartache of dealing with a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s,” Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen said. “We know audiences will relate to the characters’ love, compassion and humor in dealing with each other.”
Added Chomko: “Making this film has been a true labor of love for me, my creative team and the magnificent cast. I could not be more delighted to include Bleecker Street among our family and have this film be part of theirs.”
Swank is an executive producer along with Wayne Godfrey, Robert Jones, Sefton Fincham, Levi Sheck and Mike Rowe.
“Elizabeth’s refreshing and heartwarming take on a subject that affects so many inspired us thoroughly,” Kjarval said. “With the tremendous cast headed up by Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, and Blythe Danner, we are confident that the very best home for this film was the incredibly classy and successful Bleecker Street whose work we have admired from afar since their formation.”
The deal was negotiated between Kent Sanderson of Bleecker Street with Avy Eschenasy on behalf of Bleecker Street and WME Global on behalf of the filmmakers. Chomko is repped by ICM Partners, Michelle Knudsen of MXN Entertainment and Tara Kole of Gang Tyer Ramer & Brown. International sales are being handled by Bloom.
