Open Road Films has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to the heist movie “Finding Steve McQueen,” directed by Mark Steven Johnson (“Ghost Rider,” “Daredevil,” “Elektra”) and staring Forest Whitaker, Travis Fimmel (“Warcraft,” “Vikings”), William Fichtner (“The Dark Night,” “Armageddon”) and Rachael Taylor (“Transformers,” “Gold”). The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films, as the European Film Market (EFM) gets under way in Berlin.

The movie is based on the true story of the biggest bank heist in US history. In 1972 a gang of close-knit thieves from Youngstown, Ohio attempt to steal $30 million in illegal contributions and blackmail money from President Richard Nixon’s secret fund. Keith Sharon (“Showtime”) and Ken Hixon (“City by the Sea”) wrote the screenplay.

The film was produced by Anthony Mastromauro (Identity Films), Silvio Muraglia (Paradox Studios), Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi (AMBI Group), and Alexandra Klim. Mikael Wiren is executive producer.

Open Road will release “Finding Steve McQueen” wide in 2018.

AMBI Distribution, the worldwide sales arm of Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi’s AMBI Media Group, is handling international sales for “Finding Steve McQueen” and introducing the film to foreign distributors at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.

Said Andrea Iervolino, “’Finding Steve McQueen’ is an explosive, character-driven film, smartly told in a way that will keep audiences guessing throughout. Open Road has outlined a masterful marketing and distribution plan that will allow this film to perform very well. We’re happy to further our relationship with dynamic team at Open Road and look forward to bringing great films to the masses together in 2018.”

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by CEO Tom Ortenberg, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Elliott Kleinberg and SVP Acquisitions, Lejo Pet and by Andrea Iervolino , Silvio Muraglia and Joseph Cohen on behalf of AMBI Media Group and Paradox Studios.