Endgame Entertainment backs 'Side Effects'

Endgame Entertainment has come on board as financier of "Side Effects," the psychological thriller to be directed by Steven Soderbergh from a script by Scott Z. Burns. Deal was announced Tuesday in the wake of Megan Ellison's Annapurna backing off from financing. Endgame said it's in discussions with 1984 Pictures to co-finance. Producers said they're in discussions with Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta Jones to star. Plot details are being kept under wraps and shooting will start in April. Open Road Films annnounced on Jan. 18 that it had acquired U.S. distribution rights for release in the first half of 2013. Filmnation is handling international sales on behalf of Endgame and will introduce the film to buyers at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival. As previously announced, Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing the film with Gregory Jacobs and Scott Z. Burns, who also penned the screenplay. Endgame's James D. Stern and Douglas E. Hansen will join the project as exec producers. Variety reported on Jan. 24 that Annapurna would not be financing "Side Effects." Annapurna's Megan Ellison, Marc Butan and Ted Schipper were to have served as exec producers. "Steven Soderbergh continues to be one of the most innovative and original directors making films today," said Stern. "Endgame can't wait to work with him on what promises to be an exciting commercial thriller featuring a remarkable, all-star cast." Endgame's move to finance comes three months after it launched an ambitious marketing venture dubbed Endgame Releasing to partner with equity investors, third-party producers and studios to provide P&A funding for wide-release films. Endgame's production of Rian Johnson's sci-fier "Looper," starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt will take advantage of Endgame Releasing by co-financing marketing costs with FilmDistrict for its release in September through Sony's Tri-Star Pictures. Endgame said at the time that its marketing and distribution funding (also known as prints & advertising) will be for $20-plus million for films released on a minimum of 1,800 screens and that it expects to finance the release of four to six films per year totaling $400 million to $500 million in P&A investments over the next four years. Tuesday's announcement didn't address whether "Bitter Pill" would be handled via the P&A fund. Endgame's deal was negotiated for "Bitter Pill" was negotiaed by Stern and Hansen for the company and by Rich Klubeck of UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com