Maple Pictures has come on board Eli Craig’s offbeat comedy Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, picking up Canadian distribution rights at Sundance, where it bowed in the Midnight program.

The deal was negotiated by Maple’s SVP of acquisitions John Bain and Nicolas Chartier of Voltage Pictures, who are representing the filmmakers. Voltage reportedly also closed deals for Evil in territories including Scandinavia, while Wild Bunch acquired French and German rights. No U.S. distributor has signed on as of yet.

The Alberta-shot Evil follows two goodhearted hillbillies who are mistaken for serial killers by a group of camping teens, and stars Alan Tudyk (Dodgeball), Tyler Labine (Zack and Miri Make a Porno) and Katrina Bowden (Sex Drive).

‘The buzz around Tucker and Dale vs. Evil at Sundance has been electric,’ commented Bain, adding the distributor is excited to be involved with ‘the most hilarious movie this year.’ Producers on the film include Thomas Augsberger, Deepak Nayar, Rosanne Milliken and Albert Klychak.

Also at Sundance, Sony is said to have closed a deal for Vincenzo Natali’s Splice, while Phase 4 Films picked up the U.S. theatrical rights and Canadian DVD rights to Brigitte Berman’s feature doc Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel.

Maple’s upcoming releases include the John Travolta actioner From Paris with Love, super-hero flick Kick-Ass, starring Nicolas Cage, and the bio drama Nowhere Boy, about John Lennon’s early years.

______________________________ You never write! Send Playback a letter — tell us what you think.