Amazon Studios moving forward with ‘Elvis & Nixon’

Several buyers had expressed interest in the project

Amazon Studios is in final talks for the movie Elvis & Nixon, which will debut in theatres only, and the theatrical rollout will be handled by Bleecker Street as part of the deal, according to Variety, reported Reuters.

The deal for Elvis & Nixon has seen its price-tag rise over $3 million and has been in the works for over a month, the paper said, citing a source. Several buyers had expressed their interest in the project, including Lionsgate and Bleecker Street, the paper said.

The film, starring Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey, is about the infamous meeting between Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon in 1970, the paper said.

According to Reuters, Amazon could not be immediately reached for comment. But it has been reported that the studio has spent an estimated $2 billion on content in 2014 with about $200 million of that used to develop original shows, according to Wedbush Securities analysts.

According to Variety, the movie has been directed by Liza Johnson with filming taking place in New Orleans earlier this year, whereas it has been jointly produced by Cassian Elwes, Holly Wiersma and Cary Elwes.

Amazon has also signed deals with filmmakers Terry Gilliam and Jim Jarmusch. Gilliam’s over-delayed project, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote will also see the light of day after being in development limbo for close to 20 years. Although no details have been revealed regarding Jarmusch’s project it is expected to be about a New Jersey poet and bus driver.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.

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