Amazon buys Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olsen’s sci-fi novel ‘The Assessment’

EXCLUSIVEIn what we understand to be a seven-figure deal, Prime Video has acquired all international rights (excluding Germany) to the Toronto Film Festival sci-fi film. The evaluationstarring Alicia Vikander (tomb Raider), Elizabeth Olsen (Wandavision) and Himesh Patel (Station Eleven).

Set in a near future where parenthood is strictly controlled, the film chronicles the seven-day evaluation a couple undergoes to determine their right to have a child. The ordeal turns into a psychological nightmare that forces them to question the foundations of their society and what it means to be human.

Also starring Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Indira Varma (game of Thrones), Nicholas Pinnock (Captain America: The First Avenger), Charlotte Ritchie (Wonka) and Leah Harvey (Base).

We’ve heard good things about the film, which marks Fleur Fortuné’s feature-length debut. Fortuné has previously directed music videos for 83, Skrillex, and Drake, and commercials for brands including Chanel, Apple, and Nike. She also directed Travis Scott’s short film Birds in the trap.

The international deal was brokered by WME Independent. Domestic sales are being handled by UTA Independent Film Group and there is a chance that this will be finalized after the film’s world premiere next Sunday in Toronto. Capelight will distribute the film in Germany.

The film was written by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and John Donnelly and produced by Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen of Number 9 Films, Shivani Rawat and Julie Goldstein of ShivHans Pictures, Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo of augenschein Filmproduktion, and Grant S. Johnson of Project Infinity.

Executive producers include Allen Gilmer, Riki Rushing, William Shockley and Tom Brady of Tiki Tāne Pictures, Connor Flanagan of ShivHans Pictures and Jonathan Saubach, and Carlotta Löffelholz and Rusta Mizani of augenschein Filmproduktion. Financial support was provided by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and DFFF.

Producers Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen of Living and Carol Production company Number 9 Films said: “We have been developing this project for over eight years, and for much of that time we have had the incredibly talented Fleur Fortuné at our side. We are therefore very grateful to our producing and financing partners ShivHans, Tiki Tane, Project Infinity and Augenschein for joining us on the final and most crucial part of the journey. We are equally excited to be working with Prime Video on the international release of the film outside of the US and Germany, and we look forward to the premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival to introduce this wonderful film to the world.”

“We are thrilled to be teaming up with Number 9 Films and Augenschein Filmproduktion on this exciting film. We were immediately drawn to this futuristic thriller and knew it would have the undeniable ability to captivate our international Prime Video customers,” added Chris Mansolillo, Head of Content Acquisition at Prime Video.. “By combining Fleur Fortuné’s refreshing take on the sci-fi genre with standout performances from Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel, audiences can expect a compelling and visually stunning psychological story.”