RADiUS has announced one of the first major acquisitions of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival as they have secured North American rights to The Last 5 Years, Richard LaGravenese’s (Behind the Candelabra) big screen adaptation of the 2002 Off-Broadway musical by Tony Award winning composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown. Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan star.
The Last 5 Years is a musical chronicling 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 backwards 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.
No stranger to the musical community, Kendrick previously received a Tony Award nomination for “High Society,” and starred in films like Pitch Perfect, and the upcoming Pitch Perfect 2 and Into the Woods. She also had a top ten song on the US Billboard Hot 100 with “Cups,” which peaked at #6 on the chart. Tony-nominated Jordan, best known for his roles in the Tony Award winning musical “Newsies” and in “Smash,” currently stars in the Broadway bound musical, “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. Richard LaGravenese is also a producer. RADiUS has slated a Valentine’s Day 2015 release.
According to RADiUS co-presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego: “For the romantic of heart,
‘The Last 5 Years’ is a love story that delivers across the board. Richard has done an extraordinary job with Jason Robert Browns music and lyrics. Anna Kendrick continues to impress what a voice! and, Jeremy Jordan is bound for stardom. Those familiar with the show will be thrilled with the faithful adaptation and audiences everywhere are in for a real treat.”
LaGravenese says: “‘The Last 5 Years’ 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. And now to have RADiUS as our distributor is really a lucky break. RADiUS is at the forefront of re-inventing film distribution for today’s audiences.”
Jason Robert Brown reiterated: “What started as the tiniest spark of an idea fifteen years has now blossomed into this miracle of a movie that gets so deeply and honestly into the souls of the characters I created. I couldn’t be happier with what Richard, Anna and Jeremy have brought to life, and I couldnt be happier that its found a home at exactly the right company.”
The film’s producers go on to say: “We are very excited to be teaming with RADiUS, an innovative distribution company with a creative and bold vision for reaching new audiences for Richard Lagravenese’s stunning and highly original film. We were fortunate to work with Richard, Jason, Anna, Jeremy and the rest of our fantastic creative team to bring Jason’s beloved musical to the screen. We can’t wait to share this gem with audiences.”
The Last 5 Years will celebrate its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, September 7th at 8:30PM at the Ryerson Theater.
