Edgar Wright’s Documentary ‘The Sparks Brothers’ Acquired by Focus Features

Focus Features has recently acquired distribution rights to The Sparks Brothers, directed by Edgar Wright (Baby Driver). The docu, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2021 marks Wright’s documentary debut with this love-letter to pop-band Sparks. The Sparks Brothers celebratorily follows the lengthy musical careers of brothers Ron and Russel Mael with an array of archival footage, both behind the scenes and performance-based. Featured in the docu are interviews given by celebrity Sparks fans ranging from Beck, Flea, and Jack Antonoff to Jason Schwartzman, Mike Myers, and author Neil Gaiman. The film celebrates the Mael brothers’ influence on the Alt-pop genre from the age of disco through new wave, as well as argues their underrated ingenuity in the art world.

The Sparks Brothers was jointly developed and produced by MRC Non-Fiction. Wright and Nina Park’s company Complete Fiction Pictures also acted as producer, alongside Laura Richardson and George Hencken. Focus Features will handle the docu’s distribution in the U.S. and Canada, while Universal will distribute internationally.

On the company’s purchase, Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski raves about the docu, “It’s hard to imagine a better pairing of subjects and filmmaker than Ron and Russell and Edgar…In telling their story, Edgar has crafted an absolute joy bomb that will literally have you dancing in the aisles whether you grew up following them or are just now realizing how much their sound already shaped your life.”

Focus is also onboard to release Edgar Wright’s next film The Last Night in Soho, expected  later this fall. The movie stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith set in 1960s London time-warp. Wright’s previous films, including Baby Driver (2017), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), Hot Fuzz (2007) and Shaun of the Dead (2000), have all received critical-acclaim for their cinematic vibrancy, sharp humor, and totally playlist-worthy soundtracks. With that track record, Wright’s The Sparks Brothers is expected to sonically, comically and visually quicken any viewer’s heart-rate.