Elysian Film Group, Anonymous Content and Bleecker Street announced today they have jointly acquired the U.K. rights to The Boy and the Heron, the highly-anticipated new film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki – his first film in a decade. Elysian Film Group will release the film in U.K. cinemas later this year.
The Studio Ghibli production opened in Japan this summer surpassing the first four-day box office of Spirited Away (2001), and last week had its international premiere to a rapturous response as opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival. Following its TIFF premiere, press hailed the film as “a masterpiece” (BBC), “exquisite” (The Hollywood Reporter), “a mystical and ambitious message of hope” (Little White Lies), and “a wholly satisfying, bittersweet sendoff” (Screen). The film will have its U.K. Premiere as a Special Presentation at the London Film Festival next month.
The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi.
The deal was negotiated by Nick Shumaker of Anonymous Content with Danny Perkins of Elysian Film Group and Kent Sanderson and Avy Eschenasy on behalf of Bleecker Street, and Vincent Maraval and Eva Diederix of Goodfellas on behalf of the filmmakers. This acquisition continues the collaboration between the companies across borders in a time of corporate contraction.
The companies jointly commented: “Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are second-to-none as artists and innovators, and we could not be more proud to bring this beautiful, emotional film to audiences across the U.K.”
