‘champion,’ action/thriller spec, acquired by studio 8

EXCLUSIVE: Studio 8 just brought in another project. The company has acquired the action/thriller _Champion_ about two American brothers, wrongly sentenced to prison in Thailand, who are

then forced to compete in Thai boxing for a chance to win their freedom. The company is now out to directors. This comes after Studio 8 recently acquired Graham Moore’s female strong, sci-fi

thriller _Naked is the Best Disguise_, another sci-fi thriller from Robert Rodriguez and Max Borenstein’s entitled _Hypnotic_ and the action thriller pitch _Planet Kill_ which will be

produced by Steven Soderbergh who may direct. _Naked is the Best Disguise_ has been fast-tracked to go before the cameras this year. The screenplay for _Champion_ was rewritten by Brad

Ingelsby (_Run All Night, Out of the Furnace_) from an original spec screenplay by Gary Scott Thompson (_Fast and the Furious_). The project was originally developed at Storyscape

Entertainment with Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein who will both produce along with Pioneer Pictures’ Robert Kravis and Karl Hermann. Tyler Mitchell and Marc Fiorentino are on as executive

producers. WATCH ON DEADLINE Marc Fiorentino brought the project to John Graham who will oversee with Rishi Rajani for Studio 8. Studio 8’s first two projects will come out this year. The

first is the Yann Demange-directed _White Boy Rick_ which will be released August 17 and following that will be Albert Hughes’ _Alpha_ on September 14. Ingelsby is repped by CAA and Brooklyn

Weaver.