According to Variety, IFC Films has acquired North American rights to The Death of Stalin after a bidding war at the Berlin Film Festival’s European Film Market. Armando Iannucci (In the Loop) directs the film which follows Stalin’s last days after his stroke in 1953. Reportedly, IFC Films won out over other interested parties including A24 Films and The Orchard.
Chaos ensued in the Soviet regime following the dictator’s death with his top advisors jockeying for power. Adrian McLoughlin (Stud Life) stars as Stalin. Also in the cast are Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Simon Russell Beale (Into the Woods), Rupert Friend (Homeland), Jason Isaacs (Red Dog: True Blue), Michael Palin (Arthur Christmas) and Emmy-winning actor Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent). Andrea Riseborough (Birdman), Olga Kurylenko (To the Wonder), Paddy Considine (Macbeth) and Michael Palin co-star.
Iannucci and IFC Films partnered before with In the Loop, for which Iannucci was Oscar-nominated for the screenplay. He also created the award-winning political comedy Veep for HBO.
The Death of Stalin is currently in post-production.
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