· It seems like only yesterday that Angelina Jolie was clashing with the Bosnian government about shooting her directorial debut; now, the fruit of her labor has a title, U.S. distributor and release date. In the Land of Blood and Honey will arrive in theaters on Dec. 23 thanks to FilmDistrict, the distribution company founded by Honey producers Graham King and Tim Headington. Said Jolie about the war-based film: "The film is specific to the Bosnian War, but it's also universal. I wanted to tell a story of how human relationships and behavior are deeply affected by living inside a war." [Deadline]
· Speaking of FilmDistrict, the company also picked up the U.S. rights to Rian Johnson's Looper, the time-travel thriller co-starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. [Deadline]
· The Weinstein Company had been in the driver's seat to acquire John Hillcoat's The Wettest County in the World, and now it appears they have. The highly anticipated film co-stars Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy and could find itself in theaters at the end of 2011. Translation: Harvey Weinstein has another major Oscar contender on his plate. [Deadline]
· In other potentially Oscar-y news: Sony Pictures is on the verge of grabbing the U.S. rights for Great Hope Springs, the marriage comedy starring Meryl Streep, Steve Carell and Tommy Lee Jones. The Devil Wears Prada's David Frankel directs the film, which starts shooting in August. [Deadline]
· Sony Classics, meanwhile, acquired Cannes entry The Footnote. [Deadline]
· Sleeping Beauty -- the Julia Leigh drama that looks like a more serious and mannered Sucker Punch -- was acquired by Sundance Selects for U.S. distribution. It will hit theaters in the fall. [Deadline]