The Weinstein Company has acquired the film rights to the forthcoming novel The Boys in the Boat. Written by Daniel James Brown, The Boys in the Boat centers on the University of Washington men's rowing team that first knocked off the likes of Harvard and Yale to earn their place at the 1936 Olympics in Munich where they promptly defeated favorites England and Germany to take the gold medal. Per Deadline, William Morris (WME) made the deal based on a 17-page proposal. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to begin scouring the interwebs in search of a historical underdog tale that is ripe for a lucrative 17-page pitch.

[Update: Variety reports that Kenneth Branagh will direct.  Branagh said in a statement, "The Boys in The Boat is an epic.  I was completely captivated by the characters, the era, and the dreams of a generation unfolding beautifully and dramatically."]