Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all US rights to Barney's Version from producer Robert Lantos.

Barney's Version Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics
September 8th, 2010


Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all US rights to Barney's Version from producer Robert Lantos (Eastern Promises, Being Julia, Sunshine). Barney's Version is directed by Richard J. Lewis and based upon Mordecai Richler's prize-winning comic novel. The film is In Competition at the Venice Film Festival and will be featured as a Gala Presentation at this year's Toronto Film Festival.

Barney's Version stars Academy Academy Award nominees Paul Giamatti and Minnie Driver, Award winner Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike, Rachelle Lefevre and Scott Speedman. In the film, Barney Panofsky (Giamatti) is a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. Barney's candid confessional spans three decades and two continents, and includes three wives, one outrageous father and a dangerously dissolute best friend.

"Very rarely does a major novel come to life so completely and so richly on the screen as it does here with Barney's Version. Featuring wonderful performances by Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike, and Minnie Driver, producer Robert Lantos more than fulfills his multi year dream of filming Mordecai Richler's masterpiece. We look forward to presenting the film to the American audience," says Sony Pictures Classics.

"Several years before starting production on Barney's Version, I approached Michael Barker and Tom Bernard. I told them about my relationship with Mordecai Richler and about how important this project was for me and that I would not trust anyone other than Sony Classics to distribute it in America. I was determined to make Barney's Version the beneficiary of their skill and experience. I am now delighted to place my film in their talented hands," said producer Robert Lantos.

Barney's Version comes to theaters in 2010 and stars Rosamund Pike, Rachelle Lefevre, Dustin Hoffman, Bruce Greenwood, Paul Giamatti, Minnie Driver, Mark Addy, Scott Speedman. The film is directed by Richard J. Lewis.