Relativity Media have acquired the rights to Distribute Special Ops flick Act of Valor. The film, based on a fictional Navy Seals unit features active Navy Seals in lead roles. Relativity have paid $13 million with a further $30 million down for advertising commitments, probably the largest amount ever paid for a film featuring a cast made up entirely of unknowns. Kurt Johnstad [300] penned the screenplay and featured stunt coordinators Mike "Mouse" McCoy and Scott Waugh took the reins as co-directors. Shane Hurlbut [Terminator Salvation] is the Director of Photography [great move.] Hit the jump for the details.
"Act of Valor is truly one-of-a-kind — ripped from today’s headline-making heroic missions, an incredibly crafted film featuring active duty Navy Seals in a remarkable and fast-paced story that will give audiences an authentic inside glimpse and make them proud of America’s finest," said Tucker Tooley, Relativity’s President of Worldwide Production.
The film was given a number of test screenings in New York and L.A. in recent weeks, and garnered enough buzz to convince Relativity to take it on. The film is described as "very patriotic" and "heavy on action." Act of Valor is one of a few Special Ops' flicks currently in development, chief among them is director Kathryn Bigelow’s untitled Bin Laden picture. That film is expected to shoot this summer, with Columbia Pictures eying a late 2012 release. Act of Valor is slated for release either Veterans Day weekend this November or Presidents Day in February.
NavySeals.com reports that "a hybrid feature film based on the Seal ethos that highlights both naval special warfare capability and fleet interaction." Relativity has sent over a press release which includes a brief plot synopsis:
Relativity Salutes Act Of ValorStudio Scores Highly Sought Action Film for 2012(Beverly Hills, CA) June 12, 2011 – Relativity Media announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to market and distribute Bandito Brothers’ Act of Valor. The groundbreaking film is an intense action-thriller which showcases an elite group of active duty Navy Seals and co-stars Roselyn Sanchez (Rush Hour 2) and Emilio Rivera (Traffic). The studio is targeting a 2012 release date.The film is directed by ex-stuntmen and documentary filmmakers/commercial directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy (Dust to Glory) and Scott Waugh (Step Into Liquid) and written by Kurt Johnstad (300).Act of Valor follows a Navy Seal squad on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent, and in the process takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs. The filmmakers had unprecedented Naval access resulting in high-octane combat sequences and never-before-seen military operation scenes which are composited from actual events in the lives of the men appearing in the film and their comrades.McCoy and Waugh are producing for Bandito Brothers and the company’s COO Max Leitman is executive producer. Legendary Pictures Chairman and CEO Thomas Tull, who is personally an investor in Bandito, executive produced along with Jason Clark (Monster House).Tucker Tooley, Relativity’s President of Worldwide Production said, “Act of Valor is truly one-of-a-kind—ripped from today’s headline-making heroic missions, an incredibly crafted film featuring active duty Navy Seals, in a remarkable and fast-paced story that will give audiences an authentic inside glimpse and make them proud of America’s finest. We’re honored to add this unbelievably entertaining and gripping film to Relativity’s 2012 slate.”“The world has always had deep admiration for these men who continually risk their lives to protect our freedom,” says Waugh.“To witness their incredible brotherhood and to tell their actual stories was inspirational and such a privilege,” adds McCoy.The deal with Relativity was negotiated by WME Global’s Graham Taylor and Liesl Copland.Bandito Brothers is repped by ICM.
