A24 strikes deal for James Franco’s ‘The Disaster Artist’

A24 Films has acquired domestic distribution rights for The Disaster Artist in the United States.

The film is based on the true story of the making of 2003 drama The Room, commonly referred to as “the Citizen Kane of bad movies” (and boy, does it deserve that title). Despite its negative reception by critics and mainstream viewers, Tommy Wiseau’s film became a cult classic and continues to be screened to sold-out audiences.

James Franco (This Is the End, 127 Hours, Pineapple Express) directs the comedy, having screened it as a work-in-progress at the South by Southwest Film Festival earlier this year, where it received a standing ovation. Franco previously starred in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, also released by A24.

The Disaster Artist was written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, who adapted it from the book of the same name by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell. Neustadter and Weber are a formidable writing team, having collaborated on 500 Days of Summer, Paper Towns and The Spectacular Now.

The Disaster Artist stars Franco in the lead, alongside his younger brother Dave Franco (Now You See Me). The supporting cast includes Seth Rogen (The Interview), Zoey Deutch (Why Him?), Ari Graynor (The Sitter), Jacki Weaver (The Voices), Hannibal Buress (Daddy’s Home), Zac Efron (Neighbors), Alison Brie (The Little Hours), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad) and Bryan Cranston (Wakefield).

Warner Bros. Pictures will handle international distribution for the film, though a release has yet to be scheduled. The Disaster Artist is a New Line Cinema presentation in association with Good Universe, RatPac-Dune, Point Grey Pictures, and Ramona Films.

The Disaster Artist is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on December 1, 2017 in the United States, ahead of its wide release a week later.