‘The Office’ co-creator wrote the script and is directing while Erica Bana toplines

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has picked up the distribution rights to multiple territories for Special Correspondents, Ricky Gervais’ remake of the French comedy Envoyés très spéciaux.

Gervais wrote the script and is directing. He is also co-starring opposite Eric Bana.

SPWA’s deal with Protagonist Pictures, which is handling international sales, include rights for the U.K., Australia/New Zealand, South Africa, Latin America, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.

The story tells of a once-hot radio journalist (Bana), and his technician (Gervais) who, when tasked with reporting on a rebel uprising in Ecuador, fake their own kidnapping, pretending to be on the ground while actually “reporting” from the comfort of a hideout above a New York City restaurant. As their false reports of the conflict escalate, so does the world’s response to their situation, which ultimately forces them to sneak into Ecuador and find the rebels they’ve been reporting on.

The movie is due to shoot in New York and Vancouver in spring 2015.

Correspondents is a co-production between Bron Studios and Unanimous Entertainment in association with Creative Wealth Media Finance.

Unanimous’ Chris Coen, Bron’s Aaron L. Gilbert, Manuel Munz and Gervais are producing. Creative Wealth’s Jason Cloth and Larry Sanisky are executive producers.

WME Global is selling domestic.