Toronto: Radius Nabs North American Rights to Anna Kendrick Musical ‘The Last 5 Years’

In one of the first major acquisitions of the Toronto Film Festival, Radius has scooped up North American rights to the Anna Kendrick starrer The Last 5 Years.

Richard LaGravenese directed the film, an adaptation of the 2002 off-Broadway musical by Tony-winning composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown.

Jeremy Jordan (Smash) also stars. The move comes two days before the film makes its world premiere Sunday at the Ryerson Theater. The film’s two stars are veterans of the musical genre. Kendrick received a Tony nomination for High Society and starred in the breakout film Pitch Perfect and its upcoming sequel as well as Rob Marshall‘s Into the Woods.

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Jordan is also known for his stage roles in Newsies and the Broadway-bound Finding Neverland.

The Last 5 Years was produced by Lauren Versel of Lucky Monkey Pictures, Kurt Deutsch of Sh-K-Boom Records and Janet Brenner.

The musical chronicles a love affair and marriage taking place over a five-year period. Jamie Wellerstein (Jordan) is a young, talented up-and-coming novelist who falls in love with Cathy Hiatt (Kendrick), a struggling actress. Their story is told almost entirely through song. All of Cathy’s songs begin at the end of their marriage and move backward in time to the beginning of their love affair, while Jamie’s songs start at the beginning of their affair and move forward to the end of their marriage. They meet in the center when Jamie proposes.

Radius is planning a Valentine’s Day 2015 release.

“For the romantic of heart, The Last 5 Years is a love story that delivers across the board,” said Radius co-presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego. “Richard has done an extraordinary job with Jason Robert Brown’s music and lyrics. Anna Kendrick continues to impress — what a voice. And Jeremy Jordan is bound for stardom.”

Added LaGravenese: “[The film] has been one of the greatest creative experiences I’ve ever had. Working in the independent film world with such extraordinary talent gave me the freedom to make the movie I wanted.”

Quinn and Janego negotiated the deal with CAA. The Exchange is selling international rights at the festival. The filmmakers are repped by attorneys Iddo Arad and Hayden Goldblatt.

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Twitter: @TatianaSiegel27