Magnolia Takes U.S. Rights to TIFF Midnight Madness Title ‘The Napa Boys’

Magnolia Pictures has picked up U.S. rights to TIFF Midnight Madness hit The Napa Boys. The distributor plans a theatrical release early next year.

Directed by Nick Corirossi, co-written with Armen Weitzman, and starring the pair, the high-concept comedy is a send-up of Hollywood comedy franchises, particularly of the raunchy American Pie variety.

The film is billed as the fourth installment in the imaginary “Napa Boys” franchise, in which rowdy bros, in increasingly contrived plots, take on wine country, learning some valuable life lessons on the way.

The ensemble cast includes Sarah Ramos (The Bear), Mike Mitchell (Twisted Metal), Chloe Cherry (Euphoria), Vanessa Chester (The Lost World: Jurassic Park), Paul Rust (Saturday Night), Jamar Neighbors (Keanu), Nelson Franklin (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer), Ray Wise (Twin Peaks), Riki Lindhome (Knives Out), Natasha Leggero (Burning Love), Ivy Wolk (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), and Beth Dover (Orange Is the New Black). Weitzman produced the film together with Mike Rosenstein (The Eric Andre Show) for Sunset Rose Pictures, and Erin Owens (Another Period). Jerrod Carmichael was the executive producer.

The Napa Boys was a hit with Midnight Madness audiences in Toronto, where it had its world premiere last month.

“Magnolia is our dream partner because of their commitment and excitement for audiences to experience The Napa Boys on the big screen,” Rosenstein said in a statement. “We look forward to people laughing together again in theaters for many years and many sequels, and prequels, to come.”

“From Terrence Malick’s To the Wonder and Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac Part 1 & 2,” Magnolia Pictures has always championed tales that delve deep into what makes us human,” said Weitzman and Corirossi, tongues firmly in cheeks, in a statement. “Tales that can be shared for generations to come like Narnia, Oz, and The Color Purple. When John Ford created Monument Valley, he was setting the stage for what eventually would become Napa Valley.”

Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley said they were “so happy that The Napa Boys have entrusted us to continue being stewards of this historic franchise. We couldn’t be more elated to bring the newest vintage to audiences everywhere.”

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia’s senior vp of acquisitions John Von Thaden, with CAA Media Finance representing the filmmakers.