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Anne Hathaway’s ‘weird’ new monster movie attracts mysterious buyer

Anne Hathaway plays a woman with a monstrous secret.

Anne Hathaway plays a woman with a monstrous secret. Photo: Voltage Pictures

Anne Hathaway’s new film Colossal was the standout at last week’s Toronto International Film Festival, earning plenty of buzz for its unique premise.

After its debut on September 9, the movie has become an even greater source of intrigue due to the mystery surrounding its anonymous buyer.

US distribution rights for the film – which also stars Jason Sudeikis and Downton Abbey‘s Dan Stevens – were snapped up for a seven-figure sum by an unidentified Chinese-based media company, according to Deadline.

The company is reportedly planning to give Colossal a major theatrical release in 2017, presumably to make a splash as part of its soon-to-be-announced investment in a new US studio.

Vanity Fair suggested the deal was part of a growing trend in recent months of wealthy Chinese power players buying into Hollywood.

Anne Hathaway plays Gloria, a woman whose life has hit rock bottom. Photo: Voltage Pictures

Anne Hathaway plays Gloria, a woman whose life has hit rock bottom. Photo: Voltage Pictures

In January this year, China’s richest man – businessman, philanthropist and real estate developer Wang Jianlin – bought a controlling stake in US company Legendary Entertainment for $US3.5 billion.

Legendary is the company behind blockbusters like Jurassic World, Pacific Rim and Inception, plus upcoming surefire hits like Kong: Skull Island (starring Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson) and The Great Wall (starring Matt Damon).

Colossal isn’t quite in the same league as these huge popcorn flicks – written and directed by Spanish director Nacho Vigalondo, it was made for a budget of $US5 million, which is relatively low for a Hollywood film featuring three major stars.

Described by those involved as “Godzilla meets Lost in Translation“, it sees Hathaway play an alcoholic American woman named Gloria, whose relationship breakdown occurs just as a giant, Godzilla-like lizard starts terrorising Seoul in South Korea.

Without giving away too many spoilers, Gloria soon discovers her own personal situation is more connected to the overseas monster than she first thought.

Jason Sudeikis and Anne Hathaway in Colossal. Photo: Voltage Pictures

Jason Sudeikis and Anne Hathaway in Colossal. Photo: Voltage Pictures

Early reviews for the film have been mixed but compelling, with most reviewers agreeing Colossal is at the very least unique, a rarity in an era of reboots, remakes and superhero sequels.

“Is Anne Hathaway’s Colossal the weirdest movie of the year?” The Telegraph‘s review asked, while The Guardian described it as “madcap” and Vanity Fair‘s reviewer admitted he’s “not really sure how to talk about Colossal“.

The Godzilla comparisons have landed the film in hot water in the past, when Toho Co, the Japanese rights holder for Godzilla, filed a complaint against Voltage Pictures for using material from its original film to promote Colossal.

The two parties settled on the condition the producers of the film would clarify they weren’t remaking Godzilla.

Watch Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis and Nacho Vigalondo talk about their film:

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