Sony Pictures Classics Nabs Robert Redford's 'Company You Keep'

Sony Pictures Classics Nabs Robert Redford's 'Company You Keep'
9:15 AM PDT 8/24/2012 by Pamela McClintock


Robert Redford
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

The Voltage Pictures political thriller starring Shia LaBeouf and Redford makes its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival before heading to Toronto.

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all U.S. rights to director Robert Redford's The Company You Keep, starring Redford opposite Shia LaBeouf.

The deal comes as Company You Keep gears up for a busy fall festival season. The indie film makes its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, which gets underway Aug. 28, then heads to Toronto. Voltage Pictures produced and fully financed the political thriller, written byLem Dobbs and based on Neil Gordon's2003 novel. Redford also is a producer, alongside Nicolas Chartier of Voltage and Bill Holderman, who produced Redford's The Conspirator.

“I’ve known [SPC co-presidents] Tom [Bernard] and Michael[Barker] for many years," said Redford. "I have great respect for what they do and how they do it. So it’s a pleasant connection."

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Company You Keep follows a former Weather Underground militant (Redford) who is wanted for bank robbery and murder. After hiding for three decades, he's exposed by an aggressive young reporter (LaBeouf).

“Robert Redford's film is classic storytelling at its best, and we are really looking forward to bringing the film to the American audience,” Sony Classics said in a statement.

The cast assembled by Redford also includes Julie ChristieSam ElliottBrendan Gleeson,Terence HowardRichard JenkinsAnna KendrickStanely TucciNick NolteBrit MarlingChris Cooper and Susan Sarandon.

The deal with Sony Classics was negotiated by CAA on behalf of the flmmakers.