Warner Bros. Pictures Acquires Russell Crowe's THE WATER DIVINER

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that it has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Academy Award winner Russell Crowe's ("Gladiator") directorial debut, from RatPac Entertainment, "The Water Diviner," which the Studio will release in select U.S. theaters on April 24, 2015. The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, and Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

"The Water Diviner," shot primarily on location in the wilds of the Australian outback and Turkey, is a post-war drama which follows an Aussie man on his travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli, in search of his three missing sons.

Silverman, in making the announcement, said, "The Studio has a long history with Russell, going back to his stellar breakthrough performance in 'L.A. Confidential.' We're excited to be collaborating with him again, this time on his directorial debut."

Kroll stated, "Russell has proven time and again what an incredible on-screen talent he is, and it's a thrill for us to be able to bring not only his first feature behind the camera-but such a moving story-to U.S. audiences."

Said Fellman, "With 'The Water Diviner,' Russell again delivers the kind of power and drama audiences have come to expect from him. This film will be a strong addition to our already diverse spring slate."

Crowe directs the film from a screenplay by Andrew Knight and Andrew Anastasios. Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger and Troy Lum are the producers, with James Packer, Brett Ratner, Kerry Stokes, Tim Worner, Angus Ross, John Collee, Knight and Anastasios serving as executive producers.

The film also stars Olga Kurylenko ("The November Man"), Yilmaz Erdogan ("The Butterfly's Dream"), Cem Yilmaz ("The Magician"), Jai Courtney ("Divergent"), Ryan Corr ("Not Suitable for Children," "Where the Wild Things Are"), James Fraser ("The Turning"), Ben O'Toole (TV's "Love Child") and Isabel Lucas ("Red Dawn").

Crowe's behind-the-scenes creative team includes Academy Award-winning cinematographer Andrew Lesnie ("The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Hobbit" Trilogy), production designer Christopher Kennedy ("Lawless"), editor Matt Villa ("The Great Gastby"), costume designer Tess Schofield ("The Sapphires") and Academy Award-nominated composer David Hirschfelder ("Elizabeth," "Shine").

Warner Bros. Pictures, RatPac Entertainment and Seven Network Australia present, in association with Megiste, DC Tour, EJM Productions, Axphon, a Fear of God Films production, a Hopscotch Features production, a film by Russell Crowe, "The Water Diviner." The film, set for release in select theaters in the United States on April 24, 2015, will be distributed in the U.S. by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.