The Sea of Trees, the latest from filmmaker Gus Van Sant, has already landed a U.S. distributor even before its premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival.
Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions joined forces to snap up distribution rights in the U.S., reports The Hollywood Reporter. The film won’t be shown at Cannes until Saturday. It is competing for the Palme D’or.
McConaughey, who joined the film last year before his Oscar win for Dallas Buyers Club, stars as an American who goes to Japan to visit the “Suicide Forest” after his wife (Naomi Watts) dies. However, instead of committing suicide himself, McConaughey decides to help a Japanese man (Ken Watanabe). Katie Aselton co-stars.
The script was written by Chris Parling.
It is Van Sant’s first film since the poorly received Promised Land with Matt Damon. The filmmaker has Oscar nominations for directing Milk and Good Will Hunting.
On Tuesday, Deadline posted the first clip from the film, which shows McConaughey and Watanabe in the forest.
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