Searchlight Pictures Buys Alexander Payne's Next Film ‘Somewhere Out There' for Worldwide Rights (EXCLUSIVE)

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18-05-2025

Searchlight Pictures has scooped worldwide rights to Alexander Payne's next project 'Somewhere Out There' which will star Renate Reinsve, the Cannes prizewinning Norwegian actor of Joachim Trier's 'The Worst Person in the World.'
The Danish-language movie, which will mark Payne's first European feature, is being produced by Birgitte Skov at Scanbox Production, a Vuelta Group company, and will be shooting in 2026 in Denmark.
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'Somewhere Out There' will reunite Payne with Searchlight Pictures 20 years after the studio successfully handled 'Sideways' which became a cult film. Searchlight Pictures also handled 'The Descendants.' Both 'Sideways' and 'The Descendants' won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
'Some of my very finest filmmaking experiences have involved Searchlight,' Payne said. 'A return partnership was just a matter of time, and I'm elated.'
Matthew Greenfield, Searchlight Pictures president said, 'Alexander Payne is a master storyteller, and reuniting with him is a true joy.'
''Somewhere Out There' marks an exciting new chapter, as Alexander makes yet another beautiful, honest, and deeply funny film,' Greenfield continued. The exec also praised the 'extraordinary team' behind the project, 'including Thor Sigurjonsson and our new friends at Scanbox.'
The worldwide deal with Searchlight excludes the Nordics which will be handled by Scanbox. Thor Sigurjonsson, Scanbox Entertainment boss, said the deal with Searchlight 'is a perfect example of how we, at Scanbox Entertainment and Vuelta, look at when producing local features.'
'With Searchlight onboard the film, it is a great opportunity for a Danish Language film to find the widest audience possible,' Sigurjonsson said. 'Matthew and Chan Phung were so passionate about the project and we believe we have a great partnership for the film with Searchlight.'
'Somewhere Out There' is co-produced by Norway's Hummel Film Sweden's Nordic Drama Queens and France's Maneki Films.
The screenplay was penned by Erlend Loe, based on Åke Sandgren's original idea. Reinsve, who will play a supporting role in 'Somewhere Out There,' is at Cannes this year with Trier's 'Sentimental Value.'
The plot remains under wrap. 'Somewhere Out There' will mark Payne's follow up to 'The Holdovers' which earned five Oscar nominations in 2024, including best picture, and won best supporting actress for Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
Vuelta Group's Scanbox Entertainment are financing. The film is backed by the Danish Film Institute and Regional Fund Vestdanske Filmpulje (DVF), the Norwegian Film Institute (NFI), and the Danish Broadcasting Corp (DR).
Matt Donnelly contributed to this report.
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