Cannes: Annapurna Lands Noir Western 'The Sisters Brothers'

Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal and John C. Reilly will star in the feature from Palme d'Or-winning director Jacques Audiard.

Annapurna is joining the family.

The production and newly launched distribution company has picked up The Sisters Brothers, an indie from Jacques Audiard based on Patrick deWitt's novel of the same name that takes place in Gold Rush-era mid-1800s Oregon and follows two brothers that are hired to kill a prospector who has stolen from their boss.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly and Riz Ahmed are set to star, with Reilly also producing, alongside Michael De Luca, Rosa Attab and Alison Dickey. Annapurna’s Megan Ellison will serve as an executive producer for the project.

Production is scheduled to begin on the noir Western this summer.

The Sisters Brothers is the first English-language film for Audiard, who won the Palme d'Or in 2015 for Dheepan.

CAA negotiated the deal on behalf of Why Not and Audiard. Chris Corabi negotiated the deal on behalf of Annapurna. Mad River handled the international rights.

Annapurna is launching its distribution arm with Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit, due out Aug. 4, and it has been actively acquiring other titles to build up its slate.