Relativity goes Rogue with 'Catfish' (DH, SCR, VAR)

By Nancy Tartaglione

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that a test-screening of Sundance documentary "Catfish" was to be held on the Paramount lot with JJ Abrams and Jason Blum pushing for the studio to hook the pic. Deadline.com later reported that Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh and director Brett Ratner had made an offer on the film, sans the need for test-screenings.

As it turns out, Paramount did screen the film and Deadline reports that the scores came up at 36% Excellent and 34% Very Good. In the end, however, it was Relativity's Rogue label that netted the tale of a 24-year-old New York photographer who develops a cyber-relationship with a family who aren't who they say they are.

Rogue paid $1.5 million, plus a significant marketing commitment, Variety reports. A Deadline source notes that Ratner didn't put up any money, but is "a particpant because he'll help to finish the final product since it's still rough. He'll refresh it."

Rogue will release the film later in the year through Universal. The label bought North America and UK rights.

Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling produced and Kavanaugh, Tucker Tooley and Brett Ratner will serve as executive producers.

Meanwhile, Screen reports that UTA was fielding heavy interest on Wednesday for David Michod�s "Animal Kingdom," Drake Doremus' "Douchebag" and Jake Scott' "Welcome To The Rileys," while WME Global was getting close to a domestic deal on "Teenage Paparazzo."

Also in play were Amir Bar-Lev's popular documentary "I'm Pat Tillman," which CAA is co-representing with Submarine's Josh Braun, who also expects to close a deal any day now on Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg's "Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work."