DEATHSTALKER: Shout! Acquires Daniel Bernhardt Sword-And-Sorcery Actioner Ahead Of Locarno
Shout! Studios, a Radial Entertainment company, has acquired the rights to Steve Kostanski’s Deathstalker reboot in English-speaking territories. Daniel Bernhardt stars in the revival based on the late Roger Corman’s cult film series.
The acquisition reteams the label with Kostanski following last year’s hit horror release, Frankie Freako. The film is currently slated for an Out Of Competion premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival which kicks off on August 6.
Below is a logline via the festival:
The Kingdom of Abraxeon is under siege by Dreadites, heralds of the dead sorcerer Nekromemnon. When Deathstalker finds a cursed amulet, he’s marked by dark magick and hunted by monstrous assassins. To survive, he must break the curse or die trying.
Bernhardt stars from a script by Kostanski with a cast that also lists Christina Orjalo, Paul Lazenby, Nicholas Rice, and Patton Oswalt. The film is produced by Pasha Patriki for Hangar 18 Media, and by Michael Paszt, James Fler, and Andrew Hunt for Raven Banner; Exec producers are BerserkerGang’s Rodrigo Gudino and Slash from Guns N’ Roses, as well as Bernhardt, Avi Federgreen, Peter Kuplowsky, Joshua Viola, Michael Paul Vasicek, Max Hensgen, Kevin Dickel, Klayton, Kevin the Ghost, Dave McGrath, Tom Biolchini, David Bond, Juan Pablo Reinoso, John Moss, Julie Dansker, Garson Foos, Bob Emmer and Fields.
“Steve is one of the most fiercely creative filmmakers working today and his love for this IP and genre oozes from every frame,” said Radial Entertainment’s SVP of Acquisitions and Originals Jordan Fields. “‘Deathstalker’ is catnip for fans of the Dungeons and Dragons staples — thrilling battles, sly humor, offbeat creatures and thoughtful lore. Daniel Bernhardt is pitch perfect in a role he was born to play. Roger Corman would have marveled at what Steve, Daniel and Hangar 18 have accomplished here, and we predict the film will earn a devoted following very quickly.”
“We grew up on a steady diet of Roger Corman movies, especially ‘Deathstalker II.’ These films were the inspiration for Raven Banner,” said Michael Paszt of Raven Banner. “To be a part of reimagining one of his most outrageously entertaining sword & sorcery classics with Steven Kostanski at the helm, Daniel Bernhardt, Pasha at Hangar 18 along with Slash & Rodrigo, our partners at BerserkerGang, is a total dream come true for us. Fans are in store for a wild ride of monsters, magic, and mayhem.”
Read more at Variety.
