Vertical Entertainment has acquired the US rights to Anthony Byrne’s “IN DARKNESS” starring Natalie Dormer, Ed Skrein, Emily Ratajkowski, Jan Bijvoet, Neil Maskell, James Cosmo, and Joely Richardson. The film, which Dormer and Byrne co-wrote and was produced by 42, will be in theaters in May 2018. XYZ Films is selling the international territories at the Berlin Film Festival and market.

Blind pianist Sofia (Natalie Dormer) overhears a struggle in the apartment above hers that leads to the death of her neighbor Veronique (Emily Ratajkowski). It is the start of a journey that pulls Sofia out of her depth and brings her into contact with Veronique’s father, Milos Radic (Jan Bijvoet). A Serbian businessman accused of being a war criminal, Sofia is drawn into a dangerous world of corruption, investigating police, hitmen and the Russian mafia – a world with links to Sofia’s own hidden past and a path of revenge she has kept hidden until now.

“Natalie Dormer and Anthony Byrne are two incredibly passionate filmmakers who have brought a powerful female voice to the forefront of this exciting thriller and we look forward to bringing the film to audiences around the US,” says Rich Goldberg of Vertical Entertainment,” said co-president Rich Goldberg.

Said Dormer and Byrne in a joint statement: “The zeitgeist dialogue on gender disparity hadn’t even begun when we started writing IN DARKNESS together. We celebrate that the industry landscape is finally shifting and are proud to share IN DARKNESS with its strong yet flawed heroine. We are thrilled to have Vertical Entertainment releasing the film in the US and giving us the opportunity of a theatrical release.”

The deal was negotiated by Goldberg and Peter Jarowey at Vertical and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.

“IN DARKNESS” was directed by Anthony Byrne, written by Anthony Byrne and Natalie Dormer, produced by Anthony Byrne, Natalie Dormer, Adam Morane-Griffiths, Ben Pugh, and Josh Varney, executive produced by Rory Aitken and Joshua Horsfield, and co-produced by Olive Uniacke, with editing by Todd Harrison-Read and Paul Knight, cinematography by Si Bell, production design by Sonja Klaus, and music by Niall Byrne.

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