LOS ANGELES (February XX, 2018) – Saban Films has acquired the North American rights to Ivan Kavanagh’s (The Canal) Never Grow Old, starring John Cusack (Love & Mercy, The Butler, High Fidelity) and Emile Hirsch (Lone Survivor, Milk, Into the Wild). The western drama was produced by Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright for Ripple World Pictures along with Nicolas Steil of the Iris Group and Jean-Michel Rey of Rezo Productions, who will distribute across French-speaking territories. The film is further supported by the Irish Film Board, Luxembourg Film Fund, Eurimages and the BAI with Cofiloisir providing cash-flow.  Initially launched by Metro International Entertainment at the 2017 AFM, and currently in post-production, Saban Films is planning a theatrical release for Q4 2018.
Written by Kavanagh, Never Grow Old was developed by Ripple World Pictures with the assistance of the Irish Film Board and Creative Europe. When a ruthless gang of outlaws terrorise a sleepy frontier town, the local undertaker Patrick faces a profound moral dilemma. He plays a dangerous game providing for his family as he profits in the wake of the violence sweeping the once peaceful God-fearing community. As the death toll rises and without religion or the law to turn to, Patrick must find a way to defeat the outlaws as they turn their brutal attention on his family.
Ness Saban and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban Films, with Will Machin on behalf of Metro International.
Most recently, Saban Films acquired Craig William Macneill’s Lizzie, starring Academy Award® Nominee Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. The racy period drama just made its World Premiere In-Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Saban Films also acquired North American rights to Brad Silberling’s war thriller An Ordinary Man starring Academy Award® Winner Ben Kingsley.
Saban Films’ slate includes: Alexandre Moors’ The Yellow Birds, which stars Tye Sheridan, Alden Ehrenreich, Toni Collette, Jason Patric, with Jack Huston and Jennifer Aniston; Roland Joffe’s The Forgiven starring Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana; Alexandros Avranas’ Dark Crimes starring Jim Carrey and Charlotte Gainsbourg; and Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms’ Small Town Crime starring John Hawkes and Octavia Spencer.
Saban Films continues to grow its presence in the industry, with successes that have run the gamut from critically acclaimed theatrical films such as The Homesman, to one of the biggest Fathom events in 2016 with Rob Zombie’s horror thriller 31.  Recent titles include: Taran Killam’s Killing Gunther starring Arnold Schwarzenegger; Ric Roman Waugh’s Shot Caller starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Lake Bell: War on Everyone starring Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Peña, and Theo James; The Girl with All the Gifts starring Gemma Arterton and Glenn Close; and Ethan Hawke action thriller 24 Hours to Live.
Metro International’s slate includes Journey’s End, directed by Saul Dibb and starring Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Asa Butterfield, Toby Jones, Tom Sturridge and Stephen Graham, and Family Film Zoo, directed by Colin McIvor and starring Art Parkinson, Toby Jones, Penelope Wilton and Nellie the Elephant. The next film into production is dramatic thriller Andorra, directed by Fred Schepisi, with an ensemble cast that includes Guy Pearce, Clive Owen, Gillian Anderson and Toni Collette.
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About Saban Films
Saban Films, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group (“SCG”), is a film acquisition and distribution company which acquires high-quality, feature films to distribute in North America. Focusing on commercial, talent driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production for release across multiple platforms, including a day and date theatrical/VOD release strategy. Based in Los Angeles, Saban Films was established by Haim Saban, SCG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and is led by Bill Bromiley who serves as president, Shanan Becker, Chief Financial Officer and Ness Saban, Vice President of Business Development.
Media Contact
The DDA Group
Saban@ddapr.com
+1 (310) 205-4868
Metro International Contact
Natalie Brenner
Partner/Head of Sales
Natalie.brenner@metro-films.com