CBS Shoots for Winchester Starring Helen Mirren
Steve Barton
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We told you about the latest project focusing on Sarah Winchester and her mystery house entitled Winchester back in May, and now Deadline is reporting that CBS Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to what’s being called a fascinating atmospheric thriller with basis in fact that has Helen Mirren playing an heiress to a gun making fortune who builds a massive mansion to atone for guilt over the weapons.
Bullitt Entertainment and Diamond Pictures made the deal for a film that will be directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig (Predestination) from the script they wrote with Tom Vaughan. Imagination Design Works’ Brett Tomberlin and Blacklab Entertainment’s Tim McGahan producing.
Mirren plays firearms heiress Sarah Winchester, who was convinced that she was haunted by the souls killed at the hands of the Winchester repeating rifle. After the sudden deaths of her husband and child, she threw herself into the 24-hour a day, seven days a week construction of an enormous mansion designed to keep the evil spirits at bay. But when skeptical San Francisco psychiatrist Eric Price is dispatched to the estate to evaluate her state of mind, he discovers that her obsession may not be so insane after all. The film take audiences inside the labyrinth like house that is believed to be one of the most haunted places in the world.
“We were immediately obsessed with the Spierig brothers intelligent and twisted take on a great American legend and could not be more excited to be working with the Spierig brothers and Dame Helen Mirren to bring this film to audiences,” said CBS Films Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions Scott Shooman.
Added the Spierigs: “We were impressed by CBS Films’ experience with the genre and their passion for and understanding of the material and know that they are the perfect U.S. Distribution partner for this film.”
The film is financed by Bullitt Entertainment, Diamond Pictures and Blacklab Entertainment, with Diamond Pictures handling international sales. Bullitt’s Benedict Carver, Diamond’s Daniel Diamond and Tobin Armbrust are executive producing. Andy Trapani, Toni Lianos, Brian Gilbert, Marc Shipper and Simon Oakes also will serve as executive producers. Production will begin in March 2017 on location in San Jose and in Australia.
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