Steve Carell to Star in Bennett Miller's FOXCATCHER

Variety reports that Sony Pictures has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Bennett Miller's crime drama FOXCATCHER. The project will be co-financed by Sony and Annapurna Pictures. The film will star Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller, Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Michael Hall. 

Carell will portray schizophrenic murderer John du Pont, described as "the heir to the du Pont chemical fortune who built a wrestling gym called Team Foxcatcher on his Pennsylvania estate."

The story is based on a true event which took place in 1996, in which du Pont shot and killed his close friend, Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler David Schultz (Ruffalo), at the training centre. After the murder, du Pont locked himself in his mansion for two days while he negotiated with police on the telephone.

A motive for the crime was never established. du Pont died in 2010 a Pennsylvania prison at the age of 72.

Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller are onboard to co-star as Schultz's brother and wife respectively. Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Michael Hall have also joined the project.

E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman wrote the script. The studio is targeting a Fall 203 release. 

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