Acquisitions and Release

ARCHENEMY: RLJE To Release New Superpowered Fantasy Thriller This December

Daniel Isn’t Real helmer Adam Egypt Mortimer’s new fantasy thriller, Archenemy, will release theatrically, on digital and on-demand beginning December 11, from AMC’s RLJE Films. Festival attendees currently making plans to catch the film earlier may do so for BeyondFest world premiere on October 2, and at Sitges beginning October 8. Mortimer produces, as well as directs from his own script, with a story led by actor Joe Manganiello (True Blood) who also produces. In the film, Manganiello plays Max Fist, who claims to be a hero from another dimension after falling through time and space to land on Earth, where he has no powers. No one believes his stories except for a local teen named Hamster. Together, they take to the streets to wipe out the local drug syndicate and its vicious crime boss known as The Manager. Storied by Mortimer, and by Lucas Passmore (No Good Heroes), Archenemy […]

BRUISED: Halle Berry MMA Drama On Track To Netflix Release Pending Deal

Lee B. Golden III

Netflix is reportedly in the process of nearing the deal toward acquiring Halle Berry’s new film, Bruised, a film that intially had Blake Lively attached to star with a different director. Next to starring, Berry now has her first directing gig on the Michelle Rosenfarb-penned MMA drama which is screening as a work-in-progress for this year’s virtual Toronto International Film Festival. The news comes marking a new milestone for the actress after years of memorable screen roles, as well as bookmarks of insurmountable struggle, which she herself spotlights in a recent cover story at Variety. In the article, it is noticed that Berry reportedly endured production with two cracked ribs after shooting a major fight scene, and insisted on a 5:00 a.m. morning wake up schedule to stay on top of the day’s goings-on. “I didn’t want to stop because I had prepared for so long,” Berry says. “We had […]

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JIU-JITSU: Alain Moussi Action Sci-Fi Bows In November Launching The Avenue Distrib Banner

Lee B. Golden III

Dimitri Logothetis is currently plotting a return to Cyprus for the production of Man Of War, details pending. In the meantime, his new sci-fi martial arts adventure, Jiu-Jitsu, will bow on November 20 courtesy of The Avenue Entertainment, Highland Film Group’s U.S. theatrical release venture announced on Wednesday. Jiu-Jitsu hails the reunion of Logothetis and actor, martial arts star Alain Moussi, since reviving the Kickboxer franchise for two films with superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme in a supporting capacity. Moussi plays Jake Barnes, a war hero championing Earth’s liberation in an epic BJJ match that happens every six years against waves of alien invaders. Actor Nicolas Cage stars as Wylie, the leader of a team of jiu-jitsu fighters who take in Jake must and help him recover his memory and strength following his foreboding defeat at the hands of Brax, the indomitable alien leader. Rounding out the cast are Frank Grillo, […]

THE LAST JOB: Dreyfuss, Sorvino Star In New Action Thriller Selling For Voltage At TIFF 2020

Lee B. Golden III

Adam Lipsius (Amy & Sophia, Oceans Rising) will be making the case for buyers at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with new action thriller, The Last Job. Voltage Pictures officially launched international sales on the pic which stars Academy Award-winners Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl, Close Encounters of The Third Kind) and Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite, Mimic, Stuber). Written and directed by Lipsius, The Last Job centers on Ben Myers (Dreyfuss), an ailing ex-mobster who has lived a life filled with violence, crime, love, and loss. He is quickly taken out of retirement when one day, he comes home to discover that he’s been robbed of all his savings. Instead of turning to his police detective daughter (Sorvino), Ben tracks down the thieves in an increasingly brutal quest for answers that drives him to question what his life has been for. Confronting the end, will he make peace with […]

MAX CLOUD: Scott Adkins Sci-Fi Action Comedy Journeys To North America For Well Go USA This December

Lee B. Golden III

Killers Anonymous and Twist helmer Martin Owen’s action-packed sci-fi comedy, Max Cloud, has been acquired by Well Go USA for North American distribution this December on digital and on-demand. Owen directs from a script he co-wrote with Sally Collett, for a cast led by actress Isabelle Allen (Les Misérables, Killers Anonymous), and starring actor and martial artist Scott Adkins (Ip Man 4) in the title role. The story is described as one that “transports viewers back to the era of classic video games, when crimped hair was as hip as velour tracksuits and Animal Crossing and Fortnite were perhaps closer to alien technology than to reality.” Allen plays teen gamer Sarah who accidentally opens a secret portal hidden in her favorite side-scroller, where she finds herself trapped in an intergalactic prison home to the galaxy’s most dangerous villains. To escape the terrifying planet, she must team up with space hero […]

THE FURNACE: Australian Gold Rush Western Joins Arclight Sales Slate, Takes To Venice This September

Lee B. Golden III

Australian writer Roderick MacKay’s feature directing debut, The Furnace, will have its world premiere at the 77th Venice Film Festival, which kicks off its ten-day run beginning September 2, 2020. The news came following this week’s prestigious Orizzionti Competition line up for the festival. The Furnace is set during the 1890s gold rush of Western Australia, and is described as an unlikely hero’s tale that navigates greed and the search for identity in a new land. Centered on a young Afghan cameleer who partners with a mysterious bushman on the run with two 400oz Crown-marked gold bars, the unlikely pair must outwit a zealous police sergeant and his troopers in a race to reach a secret furnace – the one place where they can safely reset the bars to remove the mark of the Crown. Starring Ahmed Malek (Clash, Ext. Night), Jay Ryan (It: Chapter 2, Top of the Lake), […]

LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER, More Join Arrow Video Channel August Lineup

Lee B. Golden III

Ryland Brickson Cole Tew’s acclaimed hit, Lake Michigan Monster, is gearing up to join the listed titles ready to stream for the subscription-based Arrow Video Channel, following its announcement three weeks ago. As of August 3, the titles will include the uncut version of Dario Argento’s Tenebrae, and Stephen King’s Children of the Corn, as well as The Untamed, The Comic, The Case of the Scorpion’s Tale, The Black Report, and Black Test Car. The Arrow Video Channel is available on Apple TV in the UK and US, as well as on Amazon in the UK; Some titles will only be exclusively available in either territory, so view the full list below and be informed! August Seasons: Monster Mayhem Lake Michigan Monster (UK/US) Blood Tide (UK/US) Dark Water (UK/US) Gamera vs. Barugon (UK/US) Lake Of Dracula (UK/US) The Witch Who Came from the Sea (UK/US) The Mutilator (UK/US) Creepshow 2 […]

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Well Go USA’s TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA Lands August 2020 Theatrical Release, Exclusive AMC Shudder Release In 2021

Lee B. Golden III

Yeon Sang-ho’s Train To Busan Presents: Peninsula will be heading to 150 theatrical screens throughout North America beginning August 7, in a major deal for Well Go USA, which also gives AMC’s Shudder exclusive streaming rights in early 2021. “Peninsula is one of the most anticipated horror movie sequels of the last decade and exactly the kind of film Shudder members are hungry for,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s general manager. Yeon Sang-ho set the bar for zombie movies with Train to Busan and its prequel Seoul Station, and we’re thrilled to be the home of his new masterpiece—and the only place where movie lovers will be able to stream this outstanding trilogy together.” The news comes on the heels of a planned re-release of the film’s predecessor, 2016’s Train To Busan, which will also include a first look at Peninsula. The film was a soaring hit following Yeon’s animated Cannes […]

LET IT SNOW: Grindstone Acquires Stanislav Kapralov’s Feature Horror Debut For September Release

Lee B. Golden III

Stanislav Kapralov’s feature directing debut, Let It Snow, is being slated for an On-Demand September 22, 2020 release. Leading international sales company, Arclight Films, announced the move on Monday, having finalized its North American distribution deal with Grindstone Entertainment Group, a Lionsgate company. Starring Ivanna Sakhno (The Spy Who Dumped Me, Pacific Rim: Uprising), Let It Snow centers on Mia, a free-riding snowboarder forced to survive a bloodthirsty snowmobile rider in the midst of harrowing weather conditions, after sneaking onto a restricted slope and being separated from her fiancé. Alex Hafner (Submergence, The Councellor) and Tinatin Dalakishvili (Abigail) also star from a script written by Kapralov and co-scribe Omri Rose. The film is produced by Solar Media’s Serge Lavrenyuk, and exec produced by Marianna Novikova, and FishCorb Films’s Yan Fisher and Roger Corbi (Papillon). “We are delighted to have our long-time friends at Grindstone Entertainment Group distribute Let It Snow […]

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Well Go USA Picks Up Denis Kryuchkov’s RUSSIAN RAID

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA never forgets its audience. Their library spans a variety of genres, including and especially global action cinema. With this in mind, they’re landing hard this week with word from Geoffrey McNab at Screendaily on their acquisition of Russian Raid, from director Denis Kryuchkov. Reportedly inspired by Gareth Evans’ Indonesian ctor Ivan Kotik makes his formal action star outing following roles in Dragon Blade, The Mermaid and Oleg Stepchenko’s Jackie Chan/Arnold Schwarzenegger epic, Journey To China. The film sees Kotik in the role of ex-Spetsnaz operative, Nikita, who embroils himself with a shady employer to seize a highly-guarded factory, only to go toe-to-toe along with his team of elite roughnecks, against Russia’s most wanted war criminal. Russian Raid picked up some eyes late last year at the American Film Market and was supposed to release earlier this year on a date then shelved due to the Covid-19 pandemic. […]

THE AMUSEMENT PARK: Yellow Veil Picks Up George A. Romero’s Long Lost Ageism Horror

Lee B. Golden III

47 years since turning investors away with 1973 production, The Amusement Park, a print of George A. Romero’s long lost film was unearthed a few years ago by author Daniel Kraus, now bringing to life hopes of reviving the late legendary horror filmmaker’s decades-old horror thriller, with Yellow Veil Pictures announcing its world sales acquisition of the film on Thursday. The Amusement Park stars Lincoln Maazel (Martin) as an elderly man who finds himself disoriented, and increasingly isolated as the pains, tragedies, and humiliations of aging in America manifested through roller coasters and chaotic crowds. Restored by the George A. Romero Foundation and produced by Suzanne Romero, New York’s own IndieCollect took the reigns for the film’s new 4K restoration. The film was originally commissioned by the Lutheran Society to raise awareness about ageism and elder abuse, and is described by Romero himself as “perhaps his wildest, most imaginative movie, […]

GANGS OF LONDON Lay Waste In The Underworld On Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital In July From Dazzler

AMC Will Rule Gareth Evans’ GANGS OF LONDON In The U.S. This Fall, Will Co-Prod Season Two For 2022 Launch

Lee B. Golden III

Sky series Gangs Of London is currently slated for a summer Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD release in the U.K. as reported a few days ago, but the show isn’t done making headlines this week. The hit crime series, about the son of a gangster who vows retribution amidst the turmoil and upheaval within London’s seedy criminal and political underbelly, is now on par for a second season, and will be co-produced by AMC. The network has also acquired U.S. rights to broadcast the first season in a date to be announced for the Fall. Gangs Of London hails from Pulse Films and Sister Pictures, and is the brainchild of Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery, the respective director and cinematographer behind Indonesian action crime saga, The Raid and The Raid 2. It stars Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders), Sope Dirisu (Humans), Colm Meaney (Layer Cake), Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones) and Lucian […]

Netflix Picks: MMA Drama KINGDOM Lands July 1, LUCIFER Adds Season Six Ahead Of August Season 5 Premiere

Lee B. Golden III

Folks who are keen on streaming their television shows and often frequent Netflix for doing so will be in good company very soon on top of its acquisition of pending series release, Cobra Kai, in addition to Warrior Nun and other amazing shows on the platform. This past week saw Entertainment Weekly break the news on Byran Balasco’s hit MMA drama series, Kingdom, which premiered from 2014 through 2017 for three seasons on DirecTV’s AT&T Audience Network. Set to stream on Netflix beginning July 1, Kingdom, from Endemol Studios, tells of the harrowing interpersonal relationships and family drama centered on Alvey Kulina (Frank Grillo), a fighting legend, and the owner of Venice, CA-based Navy St. MMA gym. Also starring are Kiele Sanchez, Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker, Nick Jonas, Joanna Going, Natalie Martinez and Kirk Acevedo. The streamer will also be accomodating a sixth season of tongue-in-cheek hit dark fantasy series, […]

THE BEACH HOUSE Terrifies This July On AMC’s Shudder

Lee B. Golden III

Jeffrey A. Brown’s The Beach House, has seen many a warm welcome from audiences at Brooklyn, Chattooga, Sitges, and the Strasborg European Fantastic Film Fest. The director’s own freshman festival rouser is now poised to premiere on AMC’s Shudder throughout North America, the UK & Ireland on July 9 The feature directorial debut for Brown, THE BEACH HOUSE is an indie apocalyptic sci-fi thriller that presents an alluring mix of scorching seaside imagery, claustrophobic isolation, mysterious contagion and gruesome body horror, with a breakout lead performance from Liberato. A hit on the festival circuit, and coming soon to streaming! “An atmospheric triumph from newcomer director Jeffrey A. Brown… A slick tale of invasion and destruction that’s both intimate and cosmically grand. The Beach House is both a loving throwback to monster pictures from yesteryear, but at the same time, it helps the genre evolve to new places.” – Daniel Kurland, […]

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WIRA: Adrian Teh-Directed Martial Arts Actioner Streams Globally On Netflix June 15

Lee B. Golden III

It’s a welcoming thing that Netflix has become such a beacon for elevated genre cinema in some aspects. The streamer’s accomodation of such hits freshly out of Indonesia, The Phillipines such as The Raid, Merantau and The Night Comes For Us, Erik Matti’s BuyBust and Pedring Lopez’s Maria, are just several examples aimed at pulling in fans of action who are in the market for productions out of Asia. To add, an announcement from Netflix on Wednesday for Adrian Teh’s latest thriller, Wira, which now marks the Malaysian filmmaker’s second title to land on the streamer since military actioner, Paskal, late last year. The streamer will release Wira globally on Netflix starting Monday, June 15. Actor Hairul Azreen rejoins Paskal vets Teh, and actor Henley Hii, along with international sensation Yayan Ruhian, and actor Dain Iskandar Said. Azreen plays an ex-soldier home from service and on a mission to rescue […]

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COSMOBALL: Well Go USA Picks Up Russian Sci-Fi Action Sports Thriller For January 2021

Lee B. Golden III

Director Dzhanik Fayziev has been a listed favorite at Planos, Texas niche staple Well Go USA for some years now. He first landed distributorship in the U.S. with co-director Ivan Shurhoveckiy for period sword-and-shield thriller, Furious (a.k.a. The Legend Of Kolvorat), and now the company is making its succession this year with Fayziev’s recent sci-fi successor, Cosmoball (f.k.a. Goalkeeper Of The Galaxy). 2071. Galactic wars have destroyed the Moon and changed the climate on the Earth. Now tropical forests are covering Moscow, while New York is iced all over. A huge alien ship towers over Moscow – it is the stadium where spectacular intergalactic Spaceball competitions take place. The game combines both sport and gladiator fights. When the game is on, the whole world stops in its tracks to watch it. The players are called Athletes, only they are allowed to contest because of their powers and ability to control […]

DON’T TELL A SOUL: Rainn Wilson Thriller Heads To Saban

Lee B. Golden III

Alex McAulay’s feature directing debut, Don’t Tell A Soul, was recently acquired by Saban Films. McAulay penned the film, shot in Kentucky, and sees a security guard (Emmy-nominated Rainn Wilson), fighting for survival after falling into a forgotten well when two brothers set out to rob a home to pay for their sick mother’s medical bills. Also starring are Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk) and Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam!) and Mena Suvari (American Pie franchise). Mangano Movies & Media’s Chris Mangano, and Unbridled Films’s Merry-Kay Poe, produced with Steve Poe, with Matt Bronson and John Neace exec producing, and Brian Tanke, Max Neace and McAulay co-producing. Don’t Tell A Soul was an official Tribeca Film Festival selection this past Spring for Mangano prior to the festival’s cancellation earlier this year. “During these trying times, we at Saban thrive to continue bringing entertainment to our audiences and provide a platform for indie films.” […]

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DEVIL’S NIGHT: DAWN OF THE NAIN ROUGE Rises On DVD and Digital This June From Cinedigm

Lee B. Golden III

Cinedigm officially announced on Friday that it has acquired all US and Canadian rights to Emmy-nominated Sam Logan Khaleghi’s upcoming thriller, Devil’s Night: Dawn Of The Nain Rouge. Pic hails from Kyyba Films and SLK Media Group, whose Khaleghi features with a cast that includes actress Jesi Jensen (Legends & Lies) and Nathan Kane Mathers (brother of Marshall Mathers/Eminem) in his screen debut. Devil’s Night: Dawn Of The Nain Rouge is described as “an action-packed crime thriller following a pair of local police officers from a small town just outside of Detroit being plagued by mysterious murders. As the evidence mounts up, they can no longer deny the presence of a long forgotten supernatural entity, the Nain Rouge, the city’s harbinger of doom.” Aaron Herman Russman penned the film whose soundtrack includes original music from platinum selling artist and co-star, Swifty McVay (Eminem’s former bandmate in D12). “Director Sam Logan […]

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VALLEY OF THE GODS: Well Go USA Snags Josh Harnett/John Malkovich Fantasy Drama For August Release

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA has acquired Valley Of The Gods (Dolina Bogòw), the 2019 fantasy drama epic from acclaimed Polish-American filmmaker Lech Majewski. The Josh Harnett/John Malkovich ensemble feature will have a physical and digital release on August 11, 2020, and also stars Bérénice Marlohe (Skyfall), Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings trilogy). Per the company’s announcement, Valley Of The Gods “contrasts opposing social extremes—namely abundance and poverty––through three separate storylines, which revolve around a middle-class writer, an eccentric trillionaire and members of a struggling nearby Navajo community. After a difficult divorce, copywriter John Ecas (Josh Harnett) takes on the biography of the richest man on earth (John Malkovich), who is both his boss and the man behind a plan to mine sacred Navajo lands for uranium. However, when modern advancement runs afoul of the long-dormant protectors warned of in ancient legend, even the […]

Well Go USA Acquires Indo-Superhero Thriller GUNDALA, Announces MOD Release Slate With UNSTOPPABLE, CHASING THE DRAGON 2, LINE WALKER 2 And More

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA is ramping up its acquisitions this season with a raft of titles. The latest in the pile as of Thursday will be Indonesian superhero actioner, Gundala, the brainchild of Harya “Hasmi” Suraminata’s 1969 comic character, the film is directed by Joko Anwar (Satan’s Slaves) for Screenplay Films, and centers on Sancaka (Abhimanyu Arysatya – The Night Comes For Us, 3: Alif – Lam – Mim), an orphan raised to adulthood surviving the tough streets of Jakarta. When he is struck by lighting and gains supernatural abilities, he finds his new calling with the emergence of a ruthless local mob boss and his loyal army of sworn assassins. Premiere Entertainment Group snagged worldwide rights excluding Indonesia, following its Midnight Madness premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. The film, which also stars Tara Basro and Bront Palarae, inaugurates the Marvel-style Bumilangit Cinematic Universe announced last summer. […]