Related Resources • "United States of Leland" Movie News, Photos and Websites • Jena Malone • Chris Klein • Upcoming Theatrical Releases • Movie Reviews • Recently Released or New on DVD

Co-presidents Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein announced today that Paramount Classics has purchased the North American rights for “The United States of Leland.”

“The United States of Leland,” written and directed by first-time director Matthew Ryan Hoge, premiered on Saturday at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival in Dramatic Competition. The film, which stars Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle, Jena Malone, Chris Klein and Kevin Spacey, begins with an act of violence and then dissects it in order to examine all of the people affected: the perpetrator (Ryan Gosling), the juvenile hall teacher with which he collides (Don Cheadle), the perpetrator’s parents, the victim’s parents, siblings, boyfriends and girlfriends. The film is driven by the quest to uncover the truth at the heart of a tragedy.

“The film is an incredibly compelling pience of filmmaking from an incredibly talented first-time writer/director. We’re pleased to also be in business with these producers for the first time,” continued Vitale and Dinerstein.

“We’re thrilled to be in business with Paramount Classics. They were extremely enthusiastic about the film,” commented Thousand Words partners Jonah Smith and Palmer West. The company also produced “Requiem for a Dream,” “Waking Life,” and the upcoming “The Clearing” starring Robert Redford.

After Kevin Spacey and Bernie Morris of Trigger Street Productions committed to produce the project with Matthew Ryan Hoge as director, they brought the project to Thousand Words to co-produce.

Following Thousand Words’ commitment to acquire the North American rights to the film, Trigger Street then brought in MDP Worldwide to co-finance the balance of the budget.

SOURCE: Paramount Classics