Cannes Day 9: Rights to ‘Homesman’ acquired

Tommy Lee Jones, the actor and director of “The Homesman,” has sold the North American distribution rights to his Cannes competition title to a new company, Saban Films.

The acquistion, first reported by IndieWire, came a few days after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. It’s the first acquisition for the company, which is headed by former RLJ Entertainment executive Bill Bromiley. A fall release is planned.

“I am delighted that Saban Films has chosen ‘The Homesman’ to begin their venture into film release,” Jones said in a statement. “Our company has full confidence in Saban Films and I sincerely hope we will serve them well.”

“The Homesman” deals with a ne’er-do-well claim jumper (Jones) who teams up with a pious female pioneer (Hilary Swank) to take three mentally disturbed women back to civilization — a five-week journey across the Nebraska Plains in a wagon in the 1850s.