Magnolia Pictures Acquires Sci-Fi Thriller ‘The Assessment’ Starring Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen & Himesh Patel

EXCLUSIVE: Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to The Assessment, a sci-fi thriller starring Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), Elizabeth Olsen (His Three Daughters) and Himesh Patel (Station Eleven), which will be released in theaters on March 21, after world premiering at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

Marking the feature directorial debut of veteran music video helmer Fleur Fortuné, the film follows Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel), a successful couple who hope to become parents in a near future where resources are extremely limited and the government keeps firm control over reproduction. In looking to do so, the pair are assigned an assessor named Virginia (Vikander), who moves into their home for seven days to evaluate whether they deserve to move forward in their parenting journey. What Mia and Aaryan are hoping is a routine test quickly unravels into a psychological nightmare, forcing them to question the very foundations of their society and what it truly means to be human.

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In a statement on the acquisition, Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley said, “Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel are all beyond fantastic in this scary, twisted, mind-blower of a movie. Fleur has fashioned an incredibly imaginative world that feels terrifyingly believable.”

Fortuné shared that she is “thrilled” by Magnolia’s move to release the film in theaters, adding, “They have always made bold choices, giving a voice to some of my favorite filmmakers, who make us think and have a different perspective on the world.”

Written by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and John Donnelly, The Assessment also stars Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Indira Varma (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning), Nicholas Pinnock (Captain America: The First Avenger), Charlotte Ritchie (Wonka), and Leah Harvey (Foundation). Stephen Woolley, Elizabeth Karlsen, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo, augenschein Filmproduktion, Shivani Rawat, Julie Goldstein, and Grant S. Johnson produced alongside EPs Allen Gilmer, Riki Rushing, William Shockley, Tom Brady, Connor Flanagan, Madeleine K. Rudin, William Bruce Johnson, Thomas K. Richards, Carlotta Lӧffelholz, Jonathan Saubach and Rusta Mizani.

SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden negotiated the deal for Magnolia, with UTA Independent Film Group repping the filmmakers.

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