Gurinder Chadha and The Boss made magic. The British filmmaker’s tribute to Bruce Springsteen, fandom, and following your dreams is poised to secure the biggest deal out of Sundance 2019 so far. New Line is in final negotiations to acquire world rights for “Blinded by the Light” for $15 million, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.
Based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s 2007 memoir, “Blinded by the Light” is set in 1987 London and tells the story of a 16-year-old British Pakistani boy and aspiring writer (Viveik Kalra) whose life changes when he discovers Springsteen’s music. “Human connections around family, hope, and a desire to do something more than is expected of you are universal, and this film shows how music and writing transcend race and religion,” Chadha told us. She continued, “With all of my films, I want to show how similar we are to people that we thought were different to us. I want audiences to feel a human connection to my characters and to leave feeling that the world is not only an unequal place full of problems, but also a joyous world where there is always the possibility of transcendence. And I want audiences to fully appreciate what an incredible man, writer, and musician Bruce Springsteen is — he deserves it!”
Springsteen gave the production permission to use his music after reading “Blinded by the Light’s” script, which Chadha co-wrote.
The film received strong reviews and a standing ovation following its Sundance premiere, with many describing the pic as a crowdpleaser and Chadha’s finest work since beloved 2002 blockbuster “Bend it Like Beckham.” Chadha is among “Blinded by the Light’s” producers. She drew a parallel between it and “Bend It” in our interview with her. “‘Bend It Like Beckham’ came out after 9/11 when many people across the world welcomed a joyous, authentic film that brought cultures together. ‘Blinded by the Light’ aims to do just that at a time where many seek political gain through division and hate,” she explained.
Chadha’s other credits include “Viceroy’s House” and “Bhaji on the Beach.”
“Late Night,” Nisha Ganatra’s comedy about a late night host (Emma Thompson) and her new writer (Mindy Kaling), scored a $13 million deal for U.S. rights from Amazon Studios over the weekend. That means the two biggest deals for women-directed pics out of the fest so far are by women of color. And Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” previously held the record for fetching the highest price tag for a woman-helmed film at the fest. The Mississippi-set drama went to Amazon for $12.5 million in 2017. As bad as women directors have had it in Hollywood, women of color in particular have received the fewest opportunities. As the first major fest of the year, we’re hoping Sundance is a sign of what’s to come in 2019. #TimesUp on people associating big-name directors with being pale and male.
