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Image Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of RLJ Entertainment,  has picked up all U.S. rights to Mandate Pictures’ Paradise, the directorial debut film of Academy Award  winner Diablo Cody. (Juno, Jennifer Body)  Bill Bromiley, Chief Acquisitions Officer for Image Entertainment, made today’s announcement at the 2013 Berlin Film Festival.

Based on Cody’s, (who’s real name is Brook Busey-Maurio) original screenplay, Paradise stars Julianne Hough (Rock of Ages, Footloose), Russell Brand (Rock of Ages, Despicable Me), Octavia Spencer (Academy Awardwinner for The Help), Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation”) and Holly Hunter (The Incredibles, Academy Award winner for The Piano).

«Diablo Cody is a terrific storyteller and her gift is evident in this film, Paradise,” commented Bromiley. “It has a talented cast and we know audiences will love the film. We are thrilled to be in business with her and the Paradise team.”

«I’m thrilled to be able to share our labor of love with the world,” added Cody. “I had such a great cast and crew to work with and it shows.”

The Plot, according to the press release, follows a sheltered young woman (Hough) who loses her faith after a plane crash and decides to go to Las Vegas to experience the wild side of life. On her journey, she meets unlikely companions (Brand and Spencer) who inadvertently help her find her true self. Mason Novick (500 Days of Summer) produced the film. Executive producers include Nathan Kahane (Hope Springs), Nicole Brown (50/50) and Diablo Cody. Matt Leonetti, Jr. and Dave Koplan co-produced.

The deal was negotiated by Bill Bromiley, Mark Ward and Michael Bayer on behalf of Image Entertainment and Liesl Copland of WME Global along with Dan Freedman on behalf of Mandate Pictures. International sales are being handled by Lionsgate.