Denis Villeneuve inks 2-year movie deal with US production company Alcon

TORONTO – Quebec filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has inked a two-year movie deal with U.S. giant Alcon Entertainment.

The announcement on Alcon’s Twitter and Facebook feeds follows a flood of critical raves for Villeneuve’s English-language debut, “Prisoners.”

The thriller screened at the recent Telluride Film Festival and is now headed to the Toronto International Film Festival, which begins Thursday. “Prisoners” makes its official premiere Friday.

Deadline.com says the agreement locks in Villeneuve’s writing and directing skills for two years, and includes “a blind script commitment” for the Montreal-based filmmaker to write and direct a feature project.

“Prisoners” stars Hugh Jackman as a father desperately searching for his missing daughter, Jake Gyllenhaal as the detective investigating and Paul Dano as the prime suspect.

It hits theatres Sept. 20.

Villeneuve will also be at the Toronto festival with the Canada-Spain co-production, “Enemy,” also starring Gyllenhaal.