Image Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the U.K. independent film The Riddle, according to Variety. The movie was successfully world premiered as a DVD given away free with the September 16th issue of the U.K.'s 'Blighty's Mail on Sunday' newspaper.

The offbeat London-set detective thriller, starring Derek Jacobi, Vanessa Redgrave and Vinnie Jones, boosted the Mail's circulation from its usual 2.3 million to 2.6 million, and the giveaway was a groundbreaking move for movie distribution.

"The innovative and successful U.K. release certainly grabbed our attention. We plan on a second quarter 2008 release in the U.S.," said Image Entertainment VP of acquisitions J. Beck.

The Mail decided to try giving away a new film after successfully bowing Prince CD "Planet Earth" in the same way.