Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquistions has picked up North American rights to Robert Pattinson starrer Bel Ami from Protagonist Pictures.

The film, directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod (Cheek by Jowl), also stars Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci.

In Bel Ami, Pattinson plays penniless ex-soldier Georges Duroy, whose rise through the echelons of the Parisian beau monde in the 1980s tells a tale of ambition, power and seduction. Rachel Bennette wrote the adapated screenplay based on Guy de Maupassant’s novel.

The deal was concluded between Michael Helfand, executive vice president of business affairs, and Tana Evans, vice president of acquisitions and distribution for SPWA, and Ben Roberts, CEO for Protagonist.

Produced by Uberto Pasolini and executive produced by Simon Fuller, Bel Ami will begin rolling out overseas at the end of February 2012.

The film has been sold to Studio Canal in the UK, Germany and France, RaiCinema in Italy, Hopscotch in Australia, Independent in Benelux, Impuls in Switzerland, Scanbox in Scandinavia, Golden Scene in Hong Kong/Macau, Unikorea Culture and Art in South Korea, SSG in Taiwan, Central Partnership in CIS, Ablo in Eastern Europe, Ozen Film in Turkey, Lusomundo in Portugal, Front Row in the Middle East, California Filmes in Latin America, PVR in India, PT Amero in Indonesia, Pioneer in the Philippines, Nu Metro in South Africa, Passion Encore in Singapore and Hollywood Entertainment in Greece and Cyprus.

Bel Ami is a Red Wave Films production in association with XIX Film, Protagonist Pictures and RaiCinema.

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