Mubi acquires Sofia Coppola’s Venice-bound ‘Priscilla’ in major multi-territorial deal

One of the most highly anticipated films heading into the Venice Film Festival has been picked up by Mubi.

Ahead of the festival, the distributor, streamer and production company has acquired international rights (with the exception of North America and Italy) for Sofia Coppola’s feature film Priscillahas its world premiere in competition on the Lido.

Mubi retains all rights in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Latin America, Benelux and Turkey, with planned theatrical releases for the UK, Ireland, Germany, Latin America, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Match Factory – which Mubi acquired in early 2022 – handles sales for all other acquired territories, with the exception of North America and Italy.

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Priscilla is based on the 1985 memoir Elvis and me written by Priscilla Presley and Sandra Harmon. The movie stars Cailee Spaeny (Mare of Easttown, Bad Times at El Royale) as Priscilla Beaulieu, Jacob Elordi (Euphoria, the pillow booth) as Elvis Presley and Dagmara Dominczyk (Succession, Bottoms, The Lost DaughterR). It follows Beaulieu after she meets Presley, already a fast-paced rock and roll superstar, but one who becomes not only a hot crush, but an ally in loneliness and a vulnerable best friend. Through her eyes, Coppola’s film seems to tell the unseen side of the great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla’s long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream estate in Graceland.

Priscilla was produced by Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle Company, Coppola for American Zoetrope and Youree Henley. It was financed by Fremantle Group. A24 will distribute in the US and Vision Distribution, a Sky Company, will distribute in Italy.

Coppola is represented by Gersh and Hirsch Wallerstein. Spaeny is represented by WME and Sugar 23 and Elordi is represented by Gersh, Nicky Gluyas Management and Goodman Genow Schenkman.

Next Priscilla — which, judging by past festival activity, probably won’t be Mubi’s only addition to the lineup — the company has two co-productions premiering in Venice in Michel Franco’s contest title Memorystarring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard, and Petrol rainbow, premiered in the Orizzonti section. The Match Factory handles the international sales of both films.