Ethan Hawke's Baseball Movie 'The Phenom' Nabbed by RLJ Entertainment for the U.S. The film was acquired ahead of its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival

06/04/2016 - RLJ Entertainment has acquired all U.S. rights to Ethan Hawke's baseball drama The Phenom. Written and directed by Noah Buschel, The Phenom follows the story of a rookie major-league pitcher (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World's Johnny Simmons) who is sent down to the minors and enlists the help of an unorthodox sport psychologist (Paul Giamatti).

Hawke plays an overbearing father in the film that was produced by Antonia Bogdanovich, Jeff Elliott, Kim Rose and Jeff Rice.  “As an avid baseball fan, I was immediately drawn to this story, but it is about much more than just the sport,” Mark Ward, RLJ Entertainment’s chief acquisitions officer, said in a statement . “Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti and Johnny Simmons bring to the life the struggles within the sport of getting to the top and the cost you sometimes have to pay to get there.” RLJ acquired The Phenom ahead of its April 17 premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. The company plans to release the movie in theaters and VOD on June 24.  WME negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

(Hollywoodreporter FILM)