Exclusive Media Group has acquired worldwide rights to the comedy Outrun. The “high-octane, action romantic comedy” was written by Dax Shepard, who will also star in and co-direct the film with David Palmer. Joining Shepard in the cast is Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, Kristin Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, David Koechner, Joy Bryant (Parenthood), and Ryan Hansen (Party Down). The film centers on an ex-getaway driver (Shepard) who exits the Witness Protection program to drive his pretty girlfriend (Bell) to Los Angeles so that she can land her dream job. The authorities and his former gang (led by Cooper) get wind of his reappearance and set out to chase him down. This isn’t Shepard’s first time behind the camera, as he also co-directed 2010’s Brothers Justice with Palmer.

This is a pretty great cast here, and I can see them having fun with the silly premise. I’m actually surprised Cooper is fitting the film into his schedule, as he’s quite the busy guy at the moment. He’s currently filming David O. Russell’s The Silver Linings Playbook, and he’s set to move on to Alex Proyas’ Paradise Lost next, followed by Steven Soderbergh’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Shepard has actually proved himself to be a solid dramatic actor on NBC’s vastly underrated Parenthood. The show comes from Friday Night Lights’ Jason Katims and if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you check it out. Hit the jump for the full press release regarding Outrun.

Here’s the full press release:

Los Angeles, CA (October 28, 2011) – Exclusive Media Group (“Exclusive”) has acquired worldwide rights in all media excluding US and Canada to the high-octane, action romantic comedy OUTRUN, written and directed by Dax Shepard (acting credits EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, BABY MAMA and MTV’s “Punk’d”) who, co-directs with David Palmer, and stars with Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper and Tom Arnold, it was announced today by Exclusive co-chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.  The all-star ensemble cast featuring some of the industry’s leading comedic actors also includes Kristin Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, David Koechner, Michael Rosenbaum, Joy Bryant and Ryan Hansen.

The feature film is being produced by Andrew Panay (WEDDING CRASHERS), Nate Tuck (BROTHER’S JUSTICE), and Kim Waltrip & Jim Casey (EXPECTING MARY).

Living under an assumed identity in central California, ex-getaway driver “Charlie Bronson” (Shepard) agrees to break the rules of his Witness Protection and drive his sexy girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to Los Angeles so that she can land her dream job. When the authorities and his former gang (led by Bradley Cooper) learn he is back behind the wheel, they hit the road to chase him down. Desperate to stay one step ahead, Charlie upgrades to an even faster car as the story shifts into high gear; cranking up the horse power and increasing the speed to make it to Southern California in time and, more importantly, in one piece.

Exclusive Films International, led by Alex Walton, President, International Sales and Distribution, will handle international distribution for OUTRUN. The film, which is currently in post-production, is being unveiled for sales at the upcoming American Film Market.  Head of Production Tobin Armbrust acquired the film on behalf of Exclusive. Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc. acted on behalf of the filmmakers.

“We congratulate Dax and Andrew on this exciting project.  They have brought us something very fresh and uplifting, with a knock out cast.  We are excited to share this with our distributors at AFM and bring to audiences worldwide in 2012,” commented Walton.

A master of improv as seen on MTV’s “Punk’d” with Ashton Kutcher, Shepard has also starred in the comedy EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, Mike Judge’s IDIOCRACY and Tina Fey’s BABY MAMA.  Currently he is starring on the NBC hit show “Parenthood.”  His writing and directing credits include the feature film comedy BROTHER’S JUSTICE.

Since Bell captivated audiences in the CW’s “Veronica Mars,” she has since starred in FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL and GET HIM TO THE GREEK, and will next be seen opposite Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski in the upcoming BIG MIRACLE, all for Universal.

Cooper starred in the number one R-rated comedy of all time, THE HANGOVER, followed by the blockbuster sequel, THE HANGOVER: PART II.  His other film credits include LIMITLESS opposite Robert De Niro, THE A-TEAM, NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU, VALENTINE’S DAY, YES MAN, HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, WEDDING CRASHERS and the cult favorite, WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER.

One of the industry’s most beloved comedians, Arnold’s feature film credits include TRUE LIES, NINE MONTHS and SOUL PLANE.

Panay is one of Hollywood’s leading comedy feature film producers with credits that also include EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, WHEN IN ROME, OLD DOGS and the VAN WILDER franchise.

Exclusive’s recent productions and titles being offered for international sales include George Clooney’s THE IDES OF MARCH produced by Smokehouse Pictures and co-produced by Exclusive with Cross Creek Pictures, Martin Scorsese’s documentary film GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD produced with Olivia Harrison, the acclaimed documentary film UNDEFEATED set for release through The Weinstein Company as wełl as END OF WATCH starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña and Anna Kendrick, SO UNDERCOVER starring Miley Cyrus, SNITCH starring Dwayne Johnson and Susan Sarandon and THE WOMAN IN BLACK starring Daniel Radcliffe.  The company is currently in production on Ron Howard’s Formula 1 epic RUSH set for its US theatrical release through Universal Pictures.  The film stars Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth, and is produced with production partners Cross Creek Pictures, Revolution Films, Imagine and Working Title.