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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Paramount Pictures has closed a deal for the rights to Chris Rock's new comedy Top Five, following four days of bidding after the film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to great reviews. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the studio paid around $12.5 million for the flick and the deal includes marketing spending of at least $20 million.
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Top Five was directed and written by Rock, 49, and stars himself, Adam Sandler, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union and Kevin Heart. The film tells the story of a comedian trying to become a serious actor while his reality TV-fiancée convinces him to broadcast their wedding on her show.
Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Open Road Films and Relativity all bid on the film after its September 6 premiere in Canada, but Paramount came out victorious perhaps because of CEO Brad Grey's relationship to Rock.
"Chris and I go back decades, both personally and professionally, and so I am particularly proud to have watched his career grow to its highest heights over many decades," Grey said in a statement.
The studio has yet to announce the film's release date in the U.S.
