February 12, 2013 - 16:51 AMT
Magnolia frontrunner in talks for Lars von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac”

Magnolia Pictures is the frontrunner in talks to consummate a deal for domestic rights to Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac for around $2 million, Deadline said.

The film’s about a nymphomaniac who recounts her sordid life to a stranger after he saves her from a beating. It stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell and Christian Slater.

The deal is fast reaching a climax after advance footage was screened over the weekend for select buyers by Nordisk.

Given the erotic subject matter of the film and given the provocative nature of von Trier, this seems like a natural multi-platform release for Magnolia. That distributor did a fine job with the helmer’s last film, Melancholia, which starred Kirsten Dunst and Gainsbourg. Magnolia bought that film based on advance footage played at Berlin, too, according to Deadline.