Magnet acquires U.S. rights to Refn’s ‘Bronson’

Lots of hardcore overseas action is heading to America soon. Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures has announced their acquisition of Nicholas Refn’s artsy British prison brawler/biopic, BRONSON. This news follows Magnet’s previous announcement of their acquisition of Tony Jaa’s Thai martial arts actioner ONG BAK 2. Both are films I am eagerly waiting to see.

NEW YORK – February 24, 2009 – The Wagner/Cuban Companies’ Magnet Releasing announced today that it has acquired U.S. rights to Nicolas Winding Refn’s BRONSON, a critical favorite from its screenings at Sundance and Rotterdam. This is the second time Refn has partnered with Magnolia/Magnet, who released his groundbreaking PUSHER trilogy in the U.S. in 2006. A Vertigo Films production, BRONSON was produced by Rupert Preston and Daniel Hansford. This is Magnet’s second acquisition in a week’s time, coming hot on the heels of taking U.S. rights to ONG BAK 2 out of Berlin last week.

BRONSON is based on the real-life story of the infamous U.K. prisoner Michael Peterson (aka Charles Bronson), and charts the 34 years of prison life of Britain’s most notorious, dangerous and charismatic criminal (30 of which have been spent in solitary confinement).

Played by Tom Hardy (ROCKNROLLA), who underwent a drastic physical transformation for the role, Bronson was initially sent to prison for a botched armed robbery in which no one was hurt, and who has since served up year after year of extended sentences that have been piled on in response to violent outbursts against fellow inmates and guards, motivated by an unceasing desire to become a celebrity superstar.

Over time, Bronson has made a name for himself as a world renowned, award-winning artist and author but still remains a “Category A” prisoner, meaning he is still in solitary confinement in Wakefield high-security prison.

“BRONSON is yet another benchmark film from Refn,” said Magnolia/Magnet Senior Vice President Tom Quinn. “Bringing to the table the rich textures of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and a bravura performance by Tom Hardy, this film is another great example of what defines the aesthetic of Magnet Releasing. Refn is one of our favorite directors working today, and we couldn’t happier about working together again.”

“Bronson is not a biopic of Michael Petersen, but a film about the concept of becoming Charles Bronson,” said director Nicholas Refn. “There is only one distributor for a film like this, and that’s Magnet!”

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia Senior Vice President Tom Quinn and Acquisitions Manager Peter Van Steemburg, with Ben Roberts, CEO of Protagonist Pictures.