Bootlegging Drama 'Wettest County in the World' Ignites Bidding War

Competition is hot right now at Cannes for the U.S. rights to the prohibition-era drama 'The Wettest County in the World,' starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, and Gary Oldman.

CBS Films, FilmDistrict and Relativity Media are trying to outbid each other for the potential Oscar contender after viewing a promo reel.

The film is based on the book by Matt Bondurant andfollows three brothers who run a massive bootlegging operation in southern Virginia. When their business is threatened, they extract violent revenge. If you've seen other films by Aussie director John Hillcoat, ('The Road' and 'The Proposition'), you'll know just how bloody that revenge can get.

Singer/screenwriter Nick Cave, who wrote 'The Proposition's original script and its score, adapted 'County' for the screen. Mia Wasikowska ('Jane Eyre') and Jessica Chastain ('The Tree of Life') costar.

Negotiations will determine the terms of the film's roll-out: the producers want a nationwide release (along the lines of 'True Grit'), while buyers prefer a more niched platform release. Producers are reportedly aiming for a 2011 release to qualify for an Oscar run.

{The Hollywood Reporter}

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