Focus Features Films announces 2010/2011 line-up!

THE AMERICAN
Release: September 1Director: Anton Corbijn (“Control”)
Writers: Rowan Joffe (“28 Weeks Later”); Based on the novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth
Cast: George Clooney, Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten, Paolo Bonacelli

Story: Academy Award winner George Clooney stars in the title role of this suspense thriller, filmed on location in Italy. Alone among assassins, Jack (played by Mr. Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. An assignment, as specified by a contact, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten of “In Bruges”), is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Italian stage and screen veteran Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues romance with local woman Clara (Italian leading lady Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY                                                  
September 24 (select cities)
Writer/Directors: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (“Half Nelson,” Sugar”); Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini
Cast: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Zoë Kravitz, Lauren Graham, Jim Gaffigan
MPAA Rating: PG-13  

Story: In this New York City-set comedy-drama, 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist of “United States of Tara”), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of “The Hangover”), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Emma Roberts of “Valentine’s Day”). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

SOMEWHERE                                                                                
December 22 (select cities)
Writer/Director: Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation,” “The Virgin Suicides,” “Marie Antoinette”)
Cast: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Chris Pontius
MPAA Rating:R   

Story: From Academy Award-winning writer/director Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation,”  “The Virgin Suicides,” “Marie Antoinette”), “Somewhere” is a witty, moving, and empathetic look into the orbit of actor Johnny Marco (played by Stephen Dorff). You have probably seen him in the tabloids; .Johnny is living at the legendary Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood. He has a Ferrari to drive around in, and a constant stream of girls and pills to stay in with. Comfortably numbed, Johnny drifts along. Then, his 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) from his failed marriage arrives unexpectedly at the Chateau. Their encounters encourage Johnny to face up to where he is in life and confront the question that we all must: which path in life will you take? Filmed entirely on location, “Somewhere” reunites the writer/director with “Lost in Translation” editor Sarah Flack and production designer Anne Ross. Stacey Battat (“Broken English”) is the costume designer, and Harris Savides (“Elephant”) is the director of photography, on “Somewhere.”

THE EAGLE (formerly titled THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH)      
February 25, 2011
Director: Kevin Macdonald (“The Last King of Scotland,” “State of Play,” “One Day in September”)
Writers: Jeremy Brock (“The Last King of Scotland”); Based on the novel The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim
MPAA Rating: PG-13  

Story: A Roman epic adventure, based on the classic novel of the same name, set in the dangerous world of second-century Britain. In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (played by Channing Tatum of “G.I.  Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “Dear John”) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell of “Defiance” and “Jumper”), Marcus sets out across Hadrian’s Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia – to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father’s memory, and retrieve the lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

JANE EYRE                                                                                            March 11, 2011 (select cities)
Director: Cary Fukunaga (“Sin Nombre”)
Writers: Moira Buffini (“Tamara Drewe”); Based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench, Holliday Grainger, Sally Hawkins, Tamzin Merchant, Imogen Poots

Story: Based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, the romantic drama stars Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) and Michael Fassbender (“Inglourious Basterds”) in the lead roles. In the story, Jane Eyre flees Thornfield House, where she works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester. The isolated and imposing residence – and Mr. Rochester’s coldness – have sorely tested the young woman’s resilience, forged years earlier when she was orphaned. As Jane reflects upon her past and recovers her natural curiosity, she will return to Mr. Rochester – and the terrible secret that he is hiding…

HANNA                                                                                                    April 8, 2011
Director: Joe Wright (“Atonement,” “Pride & Prejudice,” “The Soloist”)
Writers: Seth Lochhead, David Farr, Joe Penhall, Joe Wright
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Jason Flemyng, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams

Story: The title character of this adventure thriller, filmed in Europe, Hanna (played by Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan [“Atonement”]) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her father (Eric Bana of “Star Trek”), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

ONE DAY                                                                                             
3rd Quarter 2011
Director: Lone Scherfig (“An Education,” “Italian For Beginners”)
Writer: David Nicholls; Based on his novel
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess

Story: Adapted from the internationally praised bestselling novel, “One Day” charts an extraordinary relationship. Emma (Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) meet on the night of their college graduation – July 15th, 1988. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. For the next two decades, every July 15th reveals to us how “Em” and “Dex” are faring, as their friendship ebbs and flows with the passing of the years. Through love and loss, heartbreak and success, hopes fulfilled and dreams shattered, they experience the grandeur of life. Somewhere along their journey, these two people realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along.