Buyers were circling, as we mentioned two nights ago. The eagle has now landed. A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks, has been sold to Sony in a record EFM international rights deal worth roughly $60 million.

We gather that Sony has acquired global rights to the hotly anticipated package from CAA Media Finance and is planning a wide-scale theatrical release this holiday season in the United States.

Going into the virtual EFM, buyers had been begging for this one. There were a lot of significant proposals from studios, independents, and a few streamers, but in the end, it was a close race between Sony and overseas purchasers. The purchase surpasses Netflix's $55 million payment for the Christian Bale drama The Pale Blue Eye last year in terms of EFM records. Sony's continued commitment to theatrical distribution was a major factor in securing the film. On roughly 2,000 screens, A Man Called Otto will debut towards the end of the year.

On location in Pittsburgh, the project is set to begin this month. CAA Media Finance, along with Lichter Grossman Nichols Adler Feldman Clark, represented the company in the United States, with STX Foreign handling international sales.

Mariana Trevio (Overboard), Rachel Keller (Legion), and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (Legion) will star alongside Oscar winner Tom Hanks in the feel-good comedy adaption of the Scandinavian classic A Man Called Ove (6 Underground).

The SF Studios production, which is adapted from the Fredrik Backman novel and original Oscar-nominated 2017 Swedish film written and directed by Hannes Holm, will be directed by Marc Forster, as we previously reported. To match the context in the United States, the title character has been renamed.

Otto (Hanks), a cranky, lonely widower with rigid rules, rituals, and a short fuse, will be the focus of the film, which will follow him as he watches his neighborhood with a hawk's eye. An odd and reluctant connection forms with his new neighbors just when it appears that he's finally given up on life. Otto undergoes a modest shift throughout time.

David Magee (Life of Pi), a two-time Oscar contender, will write the new script, which he will also executive produce. Following their successful partnership on the critically acclaimed Finding Neverland, the couple reunite for the first time in A Man Called Otto. For that 2004 film, Magee was also nominated for an Oscar.

The film is being produced by SF Studios' Fredrik Wikström Nicastro (A Man Called Ove), Rita Wilson (Mamma Mia!), and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman (Playtone). Through their production business 2DUX2, Marc Forster and Renée Wolfe will serve as executive producers (World War Z). The project is being supported by SF Studios.

“What an amazing all-star constellation of talent: Tom Hanks in an iconic role and an exceptional director in Mark Forster; outstanding producers in Rita Wilson, Gary Goetzman and Fredrik Wikström Nicastro; exquisite screenplay from David Mcgee; a worldwide best-selling book; and our long-time partner, SF Studios,” Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, said in confirming the deal for Deadline. “Elizabeth Gabler, myself and Sony have had the privilege of working with all of these giants before, but this time we feel like we hit the lottery.”

Said Nicastro: “Tom and Elisabeth’s passion for the material and vision for how to create a worldwide theatrical event blew us all away. We couldn’t be more excited for Otto to find a home at our friends at Sony.”

Said Wilson: “We are thrilled to partner with Sony, who have consistently shown their commitment to film and filmmakers. In this era, which offers so many ways to be entertained, we applaud Sony’s commitment to theatrical exhibition.”

Jon Freedberg, EVP Content Strategy Business Development, and Joe Matukewicz, Head of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions' Stage 6 Films, negotiated the agreement on behalf of Sony Pictures. On behalf of the filmmakers, CAA Media Finance, Lichter Grossman Nichols Adler Feldman and Paul Hastings' Craig Emanuel negotiated.