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First Independent Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to Serenade Films' "The Great New Wonderful." Danny Leiner ("Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle") directed the ensemble pic, which stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tony Shalhoub and Edie Falco. An early summer release is being eyed.

Penned by Sam Catlin, "New Wonderful" tells five stories in New York City a year after 9/11. Will Arnett, Stephen Colbert, Olympia Dukakis, Jim Gaffigan, Judy Greer, Tom McCarthy and Naseeruddin Shah round out the cast. Pic had its world premiere at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Matt Tauber, Leiner and Leslie Urdang produced.

FIP's acquisition of "New Wonderful" marks the third domestic deal for Serenade, which recently announced IFC's acquisition of the company's "Twelve and Holding," directed by Michael Cuesta, and Kindred Media's deal for an upcoming March release for the Michael Keaton starrer "Game 6," directed by Michael Hoffman.