Liddell Entertainment buys 'Killer Joe'

Liddell Entertainment has acquired U.S. privileges to William Friedkin's crime drama "Killer Joe" from Current Pictures.Deal was introduced Tuesday in the Toronto Film Festival, per week after "Joe" had its world premiere in the Venice Film Festival. Pic, starring Matthew McConaughey and Emile Hirsch, first showed in Toronto on Sunday evening.Supporting cast includes Thomas Haden Chapel, Gina Gershon and Juno Temple. The script was compiled by Tracy Letts, on whose take part in the film relies. Current topper Nicolas Chartier and Scott Einbinder of ANA Media Corporation. Current Pictures, Christopher Woodrow's Worldview Entertainment, and Picture Perfect Corp. funded. Hirsch shows a 22-year-old drug dealer that has his stash stolen by his mother and needs to develop $6,000 quick or he's dead. Desperate, he turns to "Killer Joe" (McConaughey) when he discovers that his mother's life insurance coverage policy may be worth $50,000. The offer was discussed with respect to Liddell Entertainment by Liddell, Chad Reineke and Michael Zelman with CAA, which assisted arrange financing. Current handled foreign sales. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com