Movieline

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.