THE PROMISE GETS US DISTRIBUTION

Chen Kaige's THE PROMISE was bought by the Weinstein Company, re-edited, then ditched by the side of the road like an ugly date when TWC unceremoniously handed it back to its original producers over a disagreement about their Oscar strategy. THE PROMISE was, at that point, damaged goods. The Chinese DVD was out, the movie had opened to mixed reviews, and it had already been submitted to the Oscars as a nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.

But now Warner Independent Pictures has picked up the North American rights and plans a May release date.