Author: Nick Stocker

LOS ANGELES (November 4, 2018) – Saban Films announced today that they have acquired U.S. distribution rights from Voltage Pictures to true-crime psychological thriller The Haunting of Sharon Tate starring Hilary Duff (“Younger,” The Perfect Man), Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls, Cheaper by the Dozen 2) and Lydia Hearst (Between Worlds, “South of Hell”).  Daniel Farrands (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, The Haunting in Connecticut) wrote, directed and produced the film. Lucas Jarach and Eric Brenner also produced through Jim Jacobsen’s Skyline Entertainment banner, which also fully financed the film. The film follows actress Sharon Tate (Duff) in the weeks leading up to her and her unborn child’s murder as she is plagued by visions of her impending death. “The Tate Murders remain a horrifying cultural fascination, even nearly 50 years after they occurred,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “Hilary is mesmerizing as Sharon Tate; this is a brutal and unsettling story.” Bill Bromiley and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal for Saban Films, along with…

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Sarah Daggar-Nickson’s Feature Debut Made its World Premiere at SXSW TORONTO (September XX, 2018) – Film acquisition and distribution company, Saban Films has acquired, along with DIRECTV, the North American rights to Sarah Daggar-Nickson’s A Vigilante, starring Olivia Wilde (Meadowland, Her, and the upcoming Life Itself).  The dramatic thriller made its World Premiere at SXSW and was produced by Lars Knudsen, Uncorked Productions’ Andrew D Corkin, Emmett Furla’s Randall Emmett and George Furla, Ambyr Childers, Wilde, and Allison Rose Carter.   Following its qualifying run in 2018, A Vigilante will be released theatrically by Saban in Q1 of 2019 and will have a one-month exclusive window on DIRECTV first.  Written by Daggar-Nickson, A Vigilante follows a once abused woman, Sadie (Wilde), who devotes herself to ridding victims of their domestic abusers. Morgan Spector, Kyle Catlett, C.J. Wilson, Tonye Patano, Chuck Cooper, Betsy Aidem, Judy Marte also star. Saban Films CEO Bill Bromiley said: “Olivia plays a badass vigilante which is refreshing and relevant while also…

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LOS ANGELES (August 13, 2018) – Saban Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to The Super from director Stephan Rick and screenwriter John J. McLaughlin (Black Swan). Starring Val Kilmer (Top Gun, Heat) and Patrick John Flueger (“Chicago P.D.”), the elevated genre film is based on an idea from “Law & Order” creator/producer Dick Wolf, who produced through his company Wolf Entertainment alongside Tom Thayer, Patrick Rizzotti and Brett Forbes. The Super centers on the mysterious disappearance of several tenants at a luxury New York City apartment building. Phil Lodge (Flueger), the building’s new superintendent and former NYPD officer, immediately suspects Walter (Kilmer), the strange maintenance man. With his daughters’ lives on the line, Phil must decipher the cryptic riddles in which Walter speaks to solve the disappearances before it’s too late. Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley commented, “The Super marks a return to form for Val Kilmer, who delivers a truly menacing performance.” Bromiley and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal for Saban Films, with Endeavor Content…

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CANNES (May 11, 2018) – Film acquisition and distribution company, Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Matthew Ross’s Siberia, starring Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, John Wick) and Ana Ularu (Inferno, Emerald City) with supporting performances from Golden Globe Nominee Molly Ringwald (“Riverdale”, Jem and the Holograms) and Pasha Lychnikoff (Ray Donovan, Shameless). The romantic crime-thriller was produced by Stephen Hamel (Passengers) and Reeves of Company Films, Gabriela Bacher of Summerstorm Entertainment/Film House Germany, Dave Hansen and Braden Aftergood. Penned by Scott B. Smith from a story by Hamel and Smith, Siberia follows Lucas Hill (Reeves), an American diamond trader who sells blue diamonds of dubious origin to buyers in Russia. As the deal quickly begins to disintegrate, he falls into an obsessive relationship with a Russian cafe owner (Ularu) in a small Siberian town while colliding with the treacherous world of the diamond trade. “Siberia is a fresh departure from your average love story, balancing the high-wire act of being a thriller with…

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CANNES (May 10, 2018) – Film acquisition and distribution company, Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Kristoffer Nyholm’s Keepers, starring Gerard Butler, Peter Mullan (“Top of the Lake”, Children of Men) and Connor Swindells. The thriller was produced by Andy Evans, Ade Shannon and Sean Marley for Mad As Birds Films, Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE, and Jason Seagraves and Maurice Fadida. Written by Joe Bone and Celyn Jones, and inspired by thea Flannan Isle mystery, Keepers tells the story of three lighthouse keepers arriving on a remote, uninhabited island for a six-week shift, who discover something potentially life-changing that isn’t theirs to keep. Soon the three are locked in a tense battle for survival, fed by isolation and paranoia, as personal greed replaces loyalty. “Gerard brings a charm and tact to the grittiness of this action-packed film,” said Saban Films CEO Bill Bromiley. “Keepers is full of tension, allure, and suspense. We absolutely love it.”  Phil Hunt and Compton Ross served…

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LOS ANGELES (February XX, 2018) – Los Angeles-based film acquisition and distribution company Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Brad Silberling’s (City of Angels) An Ordinary Man, starring Academy Award® Winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) and Hera Hilmar (upcoming Peter Jackson’s Mortal Engines). The war thriller was produced by Rick Dugdale for Enderby Entertainment, and Kingsley and Silberling. Saban Films is planning a theatrical release for Q2 2018.   Written by Silberling, An Ordinary Man follows a war criminal in hiding who forms a relationship with his only connection to the outside world - his maid.   “Sir Ben Kingsley is the epitome of class, boldness, and exalting talent,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “He has truly captivated us with An Ordinary Man.”   Daniel Petrie Jr. executive produced the film.  Ness Saban and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban Films.   Most recently, Saban Films acquired Craig William Macneill’s Lizzie, starring Academy Award® Nominee Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. The…

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LOS ANGELES (February XX, 2018) – Saban Films has acquired the North American rights to Ivan Kavanagh’s (The Canal) Never Grow Old, starring John Cusack (Love & Mercy, The Butler, High Fidelity) and Emile Hirsch (Lone Survivor, Milk, Into the Wild). The western drama was produced by Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright for Ripple World Pictures along with Nicolas Steil of the Iris Group and Jean-Michel Rey of Rezo Productions, who will distribute across French-speaking territories. The film is further supported by the Irish Film Board, Luxembourg Film Fund, Eurimages and the BAI with Cofiloisir providing cash-flow.  Initially launched by Metro International Entertainment at the 2017 AFM, and currently in post-production, Saban Films is planning a theatrical release for Q4 2018. Written by Kavanagh, Never Grow Old was developed by Ripple World Pictures with the assistance of the Irish Film Board and Creative Europe. When a ruthless gang of outlaws terrorise a sleepy frontier town, the local undertaker Patrick faces a profound moral dilemma. He…

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Roadside Attractions to Partner on Theatrical Release PARK CITY (January 25, 2018) – In a competitive situation, Saban Films has nabbed North American rights to Craig William Macneill’s Lizzie, starring Academy Award Nominee Chloë Sevigny (Boys Don't Cry) as the renowned accused murderess Lizzie Borden and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga).  The racy period drama, which just made its World Premiere In-Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, was produced by Sevigny, Naomi Despres and Liz Destro.  The film was executive produced by Elizabeth Stillwell, Roxanne Fie Anderson, and Edward J. Anderson of Powder Hound Pictures.  Saban Films is planning a theatrical release in partnership with Roadside Attractions this summer. Written by Bryce Kass and based on the unsolved, much-speculated-about murders of the Borden parents, Lizzie explores the inner workings of the Borden household leading up to the murders and their immediate aftermath and reveals many layers of the strange, fragile woman who stood accused of the brutal crime. As an unmarried woman of 32, Lizzie…

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LOS ANGELES (January 16, 2018) – Los Angeles-based film acquisition and distribution company Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Pasha Patriki’s Black Water, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme (Universal Soldier, Kickboxer), and Dolph Lundgren (The Expendables 2). The action thriller which marks the fifth collaboration between Van Damme and Lundgren, was produced by Jason Cherubini, Alexander Ferguson, Tyler W. Konney and Richard Switzer for Dawn’s Light Productions. Saban Films is planning a theatrical release in Q2 of 2018. Written by Chad Law, with a story by Law, Konney and Switzer, Black Water follows a deep cover operative who awakens to find himself imprisoned in a CIA black site on a submarine. With the help of a fellow prisoner and an amateur agent, Wheeler (Van Damme) must race against the clock to escape the vessel and expose who set him up. “Jean-Claude and Dolph are a powerhouse duo, it’s refreshing to see them fighting on the same side for a change,” said Saban Films’ Bill…

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LOS ANGELES (December 19, 2017) – Los Angeles-based film acquisition and distribution company Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Alexandre Moors’ The Yellow Birds, starring Tye Sheridan (Mud), Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine), Jason Patric (Speed 2: Cruise Control) with Jack Huston (American Hustle) and Jennifer Aniston (“Friends,” Office Christmas Party, Cake). The war drama, which made its World Premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize for Best Cinematography, was produced by Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton for Cinelou Films, and Jeff Sharp for Story Mining & Supply Company. Saban Films is planning a theatrical release in Spring 2018. Written by David Lowery and R.F.I. Porto, and based on the novel by Kevin Powers, The Yellow Birds follows two young soldiers, Bartle (Ehrenreich) and Murph (Sheridan), who navigate the terrors of the Iraq war under the command of the older, troubled Sergeant Sterling. All the while, Bartle is haunted by a promise he…

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