Sony Pictures Classics has announced the acquisition of Aisling Walsh’s “Maudie,” her biopic of artist Maud Lewis.
Written by Sherry White and starring Sally Hawkins (“Happy Go Lucky”), the film is based on the true story of “an unlikely romance in which the reclusive Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) hires a fragile yet determined woman named Maud (Hawkins) to be his housekeeper. Maud yearns to be independent, to live away from her protective family, and she also yearns, passionately, to create art. Unexpectedly, Everett finds himself falling in love. ‘Maudie’ charts Everett’s efforts to protect himself from being hurt, Maud’s deep and abiding love for this difficult man, and her surprising rise to fame as a folk painter.”
The film recently premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“I am delighted that Sony Pictures Classics have come on board to distribute ‘Maudie,’” Walsh commented. “They have an amazing record of bringing indie films to the widest audience possible and I am so excited to be working with them.”
“Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke are astounding and surprising, making ‘Maudie’ an illuminating film experience,” said Sony Pictures Classics in a statement.
The deal is for rights in the U.S. and multiple territories including Latin America, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Scandinavia, Turkey, UK, multiple territories in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South Africa.
