Rogue Pictures Acquires Worldwide Rights to Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Directed by Michel Gondry

Rogue Pictures Acquires Worldwide Rights to Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Directed by Michel Gondry

TORONTO, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Rogue Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Dave Chappelle's Block Party, directed by Michel Gondry. Rogue Pictures president David Linde, president of production Andrew Rona, and senior vice president of acquisitions Jason Resnick made the announcement today.

Rogue acquired the feature from Bob Yari Productions, a Yari Film Group company, and Dave Chappelle's Pilot Boy Productions.

Dave Chappelle's Block Party spotlights comedy superstar Dave Chappelle in all-new freestyle standup material, and also one-time-only performances by Kanye West, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez, Jill Scott, and The Roots, among others. The unprecedented combination of comedy and music was shot on location last year, as Mr. Chappelle threw a party in downtown Brooklyn, inviting local residents and cameras. The feature, a work-in-progress, was shown this week as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Mr. Gondry shared this year's Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Focus Features' Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and that film's cinematographer, Ellen Kuras, captured the exclusive performances for Dave Chappelle's Block Party.

Mr. Linde commented, "Dave Chappelle's Block Party will offer moviegoers front-row seats at an amazing and unique experience. These performers are a thrill to see and hear. We're delighted to be working with Michel again and of course, Dave Chappelle; they are both true visionaries. Rogue is actively seeking comedic material as part of our increased slate, so what better way to start than with Dave?"

Mr. Rona said, "This film played to a huge response in Toronto. Dave Chappelle is hilarious, and Dave Chappelle's Block Party is a real crowd-pleaser."

Rogue Pictures is devoted to producing and distributing high-quality suspense, action, thriller, comedy, and urban entertainment with mainstream appeal and franchise potential. Rogue's sibling company Focus Features markets and distributes and holds international sales and distribution rights to all Rogue movies.

In addition to Dave Chappelle's Block Party, upcoming Rogue Pictures releases include Jeff Wadlow's Cry_Wolf, starring Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, and Jared Padalecki; the untitled supernatural thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar for director Asif Kapadia; Altered, directed by Eduardo Sanchez, co-writer and co-director of The Blair Witch Project; and Vondie Curtis Hall's Waist Deep, starring Tyrese Gibson, Meagan Good, Larenz Tate, and The Game, which is currently in production in Los Angeles.

Rogue Pictures is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

Source: Rogue Pictures

CONTACT: Harlan Gulko for ROGUE PICTURES, +1-818-777-7346

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