Given the fact that Paramount has distributed Martin Scorsese’s most recent features – including Hugo and Shutter Island -- it makes sense that the studio would jump on board for the director’s latest collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street, which currently is shooting in New York City. But the ink is on the contract now, and Paramount officially has distribution rights to Scorsese’s financial drama.
Deadline, which breaks the news of the distribution deal, says that Paramount plans a fourth quarter 2013 release date for Wolf, which casts DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, a Wall Street shark who enjoys a rapid ascent to power … and an equally rapid – yet self-inflicted – descent thanks to his abuse of drink, drugs and the general vices that come with financial power.
In general, Scorsese has meant good business for Paramount. Hugo earned $73.8 million during 2011’s busy holiday season, while the dark and challenging Shutter Island crossed $128M when it opened in February 2010. Scorsese, though, has shown no real loyalty to one studio (like some directors do), producing films at whichever house will give him the opportunity – be it Miramax, Warner Bros., Universal or Buena Vista.
Wolf of Wall Street, on the surface, feels like it’s going to be another smash hit for Scorsese and his impossibly gifted leading man. DiCaprio is surrounded by a number of talents in the financial drama, including Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, Rob Reiner and The Artists Best Actor winner Jean Dujardin. Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter wrote the script. A late 2013 release date suggests Oscar hopes for Wolf, but we’ll see how that plays out.
