A24 Acquires Olivia Wilde’s Annapurna Film ‘The Invite’ for Over $10 Million at Sundance
A24 Secures Olivia Wilde’s ‘The Invite’ Amid Bidding Frenzy
In a fiercely contested bidding war, A24 has emerged victorious in acquiring Olivia Wilde and Annapurna’s highly anticipated film, The Invite, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The deal, which is reported to be in the eight-figure range, concluded after a 72-hour competition that escalated from an initial bid of $10 million. Sources indicate that Wilde had expressed a preference for a theatrical release.
As the bidding approached its finale, A24 faced off against Warner Bros.’ contemporary film label, led by former Neon marketing executive Christian Parkes, alongside Focus Features. Previous contenders included Netflix, Neon, Searchlight, and Sony, but A24 ultimately secured the project.
The Invite marks a reunion for Wilde with Megan Ellison and Annapurna, who collaborated on the production of Wilde’s debut film, Booksmart.
This romantic comedy revolves around two couples, Joe and Angela, played by Wilde and Seth Rogen, whose relationship is on shaky ground. Complicating matters, their upstairs neighbors, portrayed by Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz, arrive for dinner just as tensions begin to rise, leading to a series of escalating mishaps.
Wilde directed The Invite in chronological order, treating the film as a staged play, a unique approach that reflects her artistic vision.
The film’s sale was co-repped by UTA Independent Film Group and FilmNation. Wilde is represented by CAA, Untitled, Narrative, and JSSK, while Cruz shares representation with CAA and Untitled. UTA represents Norton, Rogen, McCormack, and Jones.
