eOne nabs 'Special Forces' in U.S.

PARIS -- eOne has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Diane Kruger starrer "Special Forces" from French major StudioCanal. Deal marks eOne's first U.S. theatrical pickup since launching its distribution branch in the States in August. The pic will be released next spring. It has now been sold in all key territories, most of which were closed at Cannes. Pic is now sold out worldwide with the exception of a few territories that will close soon, StudioCanal said. Set in Afghanistan, the high-voltage thriller turns on a French journalist who gets kidnapped by the Taliban. Budgeted just under $25 million, pic was lensed in Tajikistan, Djibouti and the French Alps. It marks the feature debut of Stephane Rybojad, a former documentary filmmaker who previously helmed docus on the special forces. Kruger plays opposite Benoit Magimel, Denis Menochet, Raphael Personnaz and Djimon Hounsou. Pic is produced by Paris-based up-and-coming shingle Easy Company. Led by prexy David Reckziegel, eOne Films North America plans to release 12-15 films theatrically in the U.S. every year. As well as the U.S., eOne operates in the U.K., Canada, Benelux, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Scandinavia and South Africa. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com