Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain Nab First Sundance Deal

So you might have heard Sundance gets underway this week, but Sony Pictures Classics isn't wasting any time on the acquisitions front: The distributor has picked up the Michael Shannon/Jessica Chastain psychological thriller Take Shelter, which premieres in competition Jan. 24. CAA -- which represents virtually the entire principal cast as well as writer-director Jeff Nichols -- sealed the deal with two days to spare before the fest's opening night. And thus it falls off Movieline's annual bidding-war forecast, also coming soon. Congrats to all.