Anna Kendrick’s Directorial Debut ‘The Dating Game’ Sold at TIFF

In a stunning turn of events, international buyers have purchased the rights to Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, The Dating Game. Bought by multiple said distributors, notably AGC studios at the Toronto International Film Festival following an in-person pitch by Kendrick and AGC Studio’s CEO Stuart Ford, the film will be co-produced by him and Kendrick, and financed by Ford.

The film tells the stranger than fiction true story of Cheryl Bradshaw, a bachelorette contestant on the hit matchmaking television show The Dating Game, which lasted from 1965 to 1985. Bradshaw was later horrified to find out that her bachelor pick, Rodney Alcala, turns out to be a serial killer. Kendrick of Pitch Perfect fame said that the chance to direct the film felt “meant to be”.

It’s no surprise the pandemic and the meteoric rise of streaming services has taken its toll on film box office numbers. This in turn forced movie studios to start releasing their films on streaming services.

However Ford appeared confident in the success of the film in a statement to the Hollywood reporter, saying he’s confident the classic pre-sale model is still relevant for “intelligent, commercial projects with bankable talent.”

Production of the film is set to begin in October, in Vancouver, with casting currently ongoing.

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