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Exclusive: Egyptian actor Mohamed Karim is set to star in Brian Skiba’s desert race thriller Dead End, which will shoot in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Arizona in 2026.

Karim was recently seen in Skiba’s western adventure Gunslingers, which starred Nicholas Cage, Heather Graham and Stephen Dorff, and hit theaters in the U.S. in April. For this latest collaboration, Karim will star and produce under his Mk Global Entertainment banner.

Kirk Shaw (Ambitious Entertainment) joins as a producer, bringing experience on more than 200 productions including Academy Award-winning drama The Hurt Locker.

Karim will star as Nixon Callahan,a former street racing legend, has been hiding in Cairo, haunted by a tragic past. When forced into one last drive, he must confront his demons. Teaming with a rogue mechanic, he must survive a deadly cross-desert run, navigating outlaw bikers, assassins, and a global syndicate, all while transporting a mysterious...

Gunslingers, directed by Brian Skiba, seems like an extended action sequence, as apart from the stylized Western-style gunfights, the film does not have much to offer. The problem I had with this film was that the audience was given little to no information about the motives and past lives of the various characters. So for 103 minutes, I felt like I was watching a bunch of people, about whom we never came to know anything, trying to get the better of each other. I didn’t understand why the narrative fastidiously abstained from delving into the lives of the characters and giving us any context about any of them. Also, I failed to understand what Nicolas Cage was trying to do in the film and what difference it would have made had his character not been there. There is a thin line between what could be funny and what just seems like absurdity.

Edwin S. Porter’s 1903 “The Great Train Robbery” is widely regarded as one of the first major narrative films — using a then-advanced clutch of techniques to tell a real, almost epic (at 12 minutes) story rather than simply to record a vignette. It also helped solidify the Western as a form specially suited to this new medium, even if it was shot in New York and New Jersey.

Telling a tale that begins that same year, Brian Skiba’s new “Gunslingers” is another “eastern Western,” shot in Kentucky. But the prolific writer-director’s latest provides an illustration of how the genre became somewhat fossilized via formulaic writing and overexposure even before 1950s television began churning out Western content in bulk. The modern-day equivalent of a Poverty Row “oater,” it’s more violent and profane than the sagebrush programmers of yore. Still, those factors can scarcely hide a serious lack of conviction...

From the ‘80s all the way to the early 2010s, Nicolas Cage was one of the most popular actors in all of Hollywood. I became a fan of his after watching Con Air and Face/Off on a loop because they were on TV all the time. But while most of his films were released on the big screen first until 2013, he turned a page in 2014 and didn’t stop starring in direct-to-video movies until 2017. Many were perplexed as to why Cage was tarnishing his image like that, but I think he didn’t shy away from admitting that he was doing it to pay the bills—bills with a lot of zeros in them. It seemed like he was en route to starting a new era by featuring in projects like Mandy, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Pig. And he kind of did. Nowadays, while he does show up in...

It doesn't take too much to lead to conflict in a Western, and Brian Skiba's Gunslingers understands this. There's no drastic reinvention nor unexpected twists in this tale; instead, it's a recognizable film consisting of pieces from other well-known Westerns from yesteryear. The problem is, all these parts were better executed by their respective influences. Stop me if you have heard this before: The most wanted man in America – Stephen Dorff's Thomas Keller in Gunslingers – rides into a small town and wants to disappear. There's a bounty on his head, but the townsfolk help him to live out...

Writer-director Brian Skiba’s Gunslingers is the filmmaker’s second western to reach theaters this year, following Guns of Redemption just last month, and it feels no less hastily assembled. While the cast of Stephen Dorff, Nicolas Cage, and Heather Graham alone is an upgrade over that of the earlier film’s, there’s little else to keep Gunslingers from blurring together with Guns of Redemption, or any other modern western of its ilk that was always destined to disappear into the limbo of VOD.

Thomas Keller (Dorff) is a wanted man on the run in the Kentucky wilderness. Looking to put his violent past behind him, he arrives at the town of Redemption, which, as its name bluntly suggests, is a haven for outlaws wanting to start their lives over. With the help of the town’s reformed criminal populace, Thomas fakes his own capture and execution, in order...

Prolific filmmaker Brian Skiba, who went from directing the slick action/thriller Pursuit, starring John Cusack, to the upcoming twisted Nicolas Cage western, Gunslingers, is ready to call it: Hollywood is in the midst of a Western resurgence. In a recent interview with MovieWeb to discuss the other western he recently directed, Guns of Redemption, Skiba said:

“Absolutely… there's a resurgence going on. You know, obviously all of Taylor Sheridan's stuff [Yellowstone, 1923, 1883, Landman] is really resurging. American Primeval on Netflix surged. I think people enjoyed Kevin Costner's film [Horizon]. Unfortunately, the format wasn't working. He should have probably just told the whole story all at once instead of trying to spread it out over three movies. But it was still a beautiful film and a lot of people responded to it.”

Skiba, who also directed the western Dead Man's Hand with Jack Kilmer, Cole Hauser, and Stephen Dorff,...

Brian Skiba discusses his new film 'Guns of Redemption' with Casper Van Dien and Jeff Fahey, and touches on the sudden renewed popularity of Westerns. He also discusses his upcoming zombie horror film 'Deprivation.' 'Guns of Redemption' is out March 7, 2025, from Shout! Studios.

A stranger known only as Luke (Casper Van Dien) is a mysterious man with a violent past. A past marked by the scars on his face and the nightmares he can't escape. He takes off his guns to find a new life. But there is no escape from a violent past. Old enemies find him and shoot him down. Before he bleeds to death, he straps his guns on one last time. With his life running out, he goes after the murderous General Bork (Jeff Fahey) to avenge the death of the Man of God (Sean Astin) who took him in, and...

Revenge, reclamation, and resurrection fuel Guns of Redemption, a sharply focused post-Civil War tale about a weary soldier hoping for solace yet destined for struggle. Director Brian Skiba’s (The Gunslinger) intentionally straightforward storytelling hones in on four key characters, reigning in any excess. Between its solid cast, gritty action sequences, and alluring American West backdrop, the film intrigues but is several bullets short of being an epic Western.

The film centers around a Civil War veteran named Luke (Casper Van Dien of Starship Troopers and Sleepy Hollow) who hopes to fade away in a small town. Fate has other plans as he’s soon drawn back into chaos when he tries to rescue two women from a traveling brothel run by a sinister fellow named General Bork (Jeff Fahey). That doesn’t end well, and the aftermath becomes the main focus of the film, along with Luke's determination to get revenge.

Nicolas Cage is continuing to expand his wild filmography by dipping his toes into the western genre. But, it wouldn't be a Nic Cage movie without the actor either delivering one of the most groundbreaking, emotional performances of his life, or one of the most bonkers caricatures you've ever seen. For his new, wild western, Gunslingers, Cage has characteristically chosen the latter.

The first trailer for Gunslingers has now been unleashed, and it's safe to say that Cage is a certified scene-stealer once again. The film is written and directed by Brian Skiba (Guns of Redemption) and is set to be released on April 11. Alongside Cage, Gunslingers also stars Heather Graham, Stephen Dorff, and Scarlet Rose Stallone. Cage plays mad genius Ben, who is guided to a town named Redemption to confront their violent histories. The official synopsis reads:

"When the most wanted man in America surfaces in a small Kentucky town,...

“Gunslingers” is the upcoming live-action ‘Old West’ feature, written and directed by Brian Skiba, starring Nicolas Cage and Heather Graham, opening April 11, 2025 in theatres:

‘…in the town named ‘Redemption’, reformed gunslinger ‘Keller’ and mad genius ‘Ben’ are guided by spiritual leader ‘Jericho’ towards vindication.

“But while confronting their violent histories, their newfound peace is challenged by violence and revenge…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Nicolas Cage is unleashing his meme-able rage as a gun-toting “mad genius” for his latest Western, “Gunslingers.”

Cage, who previously starred in fellow genre films “The Old Way” and “Butcher’s Crossing,” plays Ben, an unhinged reformed outlaw who has a spiritual awakening on the road of revenge. Stephen Dorff and Heather Graham also star in “Gunslingers,” along with Scarlet Stallone, Costas Mandylor, Tzi Ma, and Randall Batinkoff.

The official synopsis reads: “Reformed gunslinger Thomas Keller (Dorff) and mad genius Ben (Cage) are guided by spiritual leader Jericho (Mandylor) as they strive for vindication. While confronting their violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignites between Thomas, Ben, and the notorious Five Points Gang. Now baptized and reborn, Thomas grapples with fresh challenges, testing his newfound peace amidst a town steeped in secrets, violence, and a relentless quest for revenge.”

The film is set in the fictional Kentucky town of Redemption.

Ladies and gentlemen, I implore you! Please bear witness to today’s Gunslingers trailer and revel in the action and unseriousness of this delightful preview for what looks like an off-the-wall Western starring Nicolas Cage, Heather Graham and Stephen Dorff.

Today’s Gunslingers trailer is the shot in the arm I needed. I’m a massive Nicolas Cage fan, especially when he’s most unhinged. Don’t get me wrong, I love his dramatic roles in films like Pig, Leaving Las Vegas, and Dream Scenario. However, allowing Cage to be at his Cageiest is a cure for what ails ya.

Brian Skiba directs Gunslingers from his own script. The story unfolds in Redemption, where reformed gunslinger Thomas Keller (Dorff) and a mad genius, Ben (Cage), are guided by a spiritual leader named Jericho toward vindication. While wrestling with his inner demons, Keller runs afoul of the Five Points Gang. The confrontation forces Keller’s hand,...

Nicolas Cage will always be known for his roles in classic sci-fi thrillers such as Face/Off (John Travolta) and Next (Julianne Moore), but he’s next been set to star in a Western that just got an exciting new look. Cage features alongside Heather Graham and Stephen Dorff in Gunslingers, the upcoming action thriller that’s coming to theaters on April 11. Lionsgate has officially unveiled the first trailer for Gunslingers, which also stars Scarlet Rose Stallone and Tzi Ma and comes from writer/director Brian Skiba. Skiba also recently worked with Dorff on Clean Cut, the nature thriller that also stars Alec Baldwin and is streaming on Peacock, and he’s famous for his work on Pursuit, the 2022 critically panned crime thriller starring Emily Hirsch that’s streaming on Prime Video.

Filmmaker Uwe Boll is back with a new action-packed vigilante thriller, ‘The Dark Knight,’ starring Armie Hammer as a man who takes justice into his own hands. The film, currently shooting in Zagreb, Croatia, has also added Costas Mandylor (‘Saw’ franchise) to the cast. Along with this announcement, the production team has released a first-look image from the film, giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come.

In ‘The Dark Knight,’ Hammer plays Sanders, a man who goes rogue and begins hunting down criminals himself. Mandylor takes on the role of Interpol officer Henry, the man tasked with stopping him. This sets up an intense game of cat and mouse, with two strong-willed characters on opposite sides of the law.

Boll is excited about the casting, saying

“We’re very happy to add Costas Mandylor to our cast, who is playing Interpol officer Henry. To see him acting opposite...

Lionsgate has renewed its long-standing film slate deal with Grindstone Entertainment Group after signing new agreements with Grindstone president and CEO Barry Brooker and principal Stan Wertlieb.

The new deal, set to run through 2027, will cover upcoming releases like action-thriller Alarum, starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by Mike Polish; Dito Montiel-directed Riff Raff, starring Jennifer Coolidge and Ed Harris and recently acquired in Toronto; Wish You Were Here, Julia Stiles’ directorial debut toplined by Isabelle Fuhrman, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Grey, and Mena Massoud; and prolific genre director Brian Skiba’s The Gunslingers, starring Stephen Dorff, Nicolas Cage, and Heather Graham.

Lionsgate last re-upped its near-17 year deal with Grindstone in 2020 and before that in 2017.

“Our relationship has been a model of success for nearly 20 years because Barry and Stan anticipate and understand what the market wants and needs in a way that has been consistently profitable for both of our companies,...

Lionsgate is set to give the thriller Clear Cut, which stars Clive Standen of the Taken TV series, Tom Welling (Smallville), Stephen Dorff (Blade), and Alec Baldwin (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), a theatrical, digital, and VOD release on July 19th – and with that date just a few weeks away, a trailer for the film has arrived online. You can check it out in the embed above.

Brian Skiba directed Clear Cut (formerly known as Cold Deck) from a screenplay by Joe Perruccio, who earns his first feature writing credit on this film. The Hollywood Reporter let us know that the story centers on Jack (Standen), who tries to leave his past behind him when he starts a logging job but finds that a team of criminals with a score to settle are out to kill him.

Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives), Lucy Martin (Vikings), Lochlyn Munro (Freddy vs. Jason), Chelsey Reist...

Alec Baldwin and Stephen Dorff get caught up in the dangerous world of cutting timber in the Pacific Northwest in the trailer for Clear Cut.

Lionsgate releases director Brian Skiba’s thriller feature theatrically and via digital and on-demand on July 19. Clive Standen, Lucy Martin, Jesse Metcalfe and Tom Welling also star in the movie that centers on Jack (Standen), who tries to leave his past behind him when he starts a logging job but finds that a team of criminals with a score to settle are out to kill him.

“Logging is the deadliest profession in the world,” Baldwin warns Standen in the trailer. “Sure you want to get into this line of work?”

Later, Baldwin is skeptical of Standen’s ability to keep up in the profession. “I had a greenhorn like you once before,” Baldwin tells him. “Couldn’t make it through his first day without screwing up.

Lionsgates upcoming thriller, Clear Cut, is set to make a splash with its star-studded cast and gripping storyline. Starring Clive Standen, Jesse Metcalfe, Tom Welling, Stephen Dorff, and Alec Baldwin, this film promises to deliver intense action and suspense. Clear Cut will be available in theaters, on digital platforms, and on-demand starting July 19, 2024. Brian Skiba directs from a script penned by Joe Perruccio. The film dives into the dangerous world of Jack, a logger working in the rugged landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. What begins as a routine day of timber cutting quickly spirals into a harrowing fight for survival when Jack and his team stumble upon a meth lab hidden deep in the forest. This discovery sets off a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a relentless drug cartel.

Nicolas Cage, Heather Graham and Stephen Dorff are set to star in the western ‘The Gunslingers’.

Written and directed by filmmaker Brian Skiba, the film will also star Costas Mandylor (Saw), Scarlet Stallone (Tulsa King), Tzi Ma (The Farewell), and Randall Batinkoff (Dead Man’s Hand).

The story is set in a rugged town named Redemption. Reformed gunslinger, Thomas Keller (Dorff) and mad genius Ben (Cage) are guided by spiritual leader Jericho (Mandylor) as they strive for vindication. Confronting his violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignite between Thomas, Ben and the notorious Five Points Gang. Now baptised and reborn, Thomas grapples with fresh challenges, testing his newfound peace amidst a town steeped in secrets, violence, and a relentless quest for revenge.

Also in news – Paul Giamatti, Joely Richardson & more join cast of ‘Downton Abbey 3’

The project is produced by Batinkoff, Laurie Love, and Skiba. Executive producers...

Having starred in only his first Western films in the last few years with “The Old Way” and “Butcher’s Crossing,” Nicolas Cage is doubling down on the genre, having teamed up with Heather Graham (“The Hangover”) and Stephen Dorff (“True Detective”) for “The Gunslingers.”

Costas Mandylor (“Saw”), Scarlet Stallone (“Tulsa King”), Tzi Ma (“The Farewell”), and Randall Batinkoff (“Dead Man’s Hand”) also star in the film, which is being launched in Cannes with Brilliant Pictures handling international sales. Grindstone has U.S. rights to the film.

Written and directed by prolific genre filmmaker Brian Skiba (“The 2nd,” “Dead Man’s Hand”), “The Gunslingers” is set in a rugged town named Redemption. Reformed gunslinger, Thomas Keller (Dorff) and mad genius Ben (Cage) are guided by spiritual leader Jericho (Mandylor) as they strive for vindication. Confronting his violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignites between Thomas, Ben and the notorious Five Points Gang.

Just don your imaginative hats and imagine for a second that you just got hitched by a beautiful woman that you’ve been eyeing for a while. You two decide to leave your old hamlet behind and travel to Nevada to earn a better living. Unfortunately, the one above has a different plan in mind and throws you and your newlywed wife into a life-or-death situation. This is exactly the premise of Brian Skiba’s latest flick, Dead Man’s Hand. The film follows the story of newlyweds Reno and Vegas, who get locked in a relentless battle against the town’s Mayor for killing his brother in self-defense.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?

Reno (Jack Kilmer) has finally exchanged vows with Vegas (Camille Collard), the beautiful blonde he always wanted to marry. Reno has been in love with Vegas for as long as he can remember.

Filmmaker Brian Skiba is teaming up with actors Alec Baldwin and Stephen Dorff for his upcoming thriller, Cold Deck. Cold Deck's production moved forward despite the SAG-AFTRA strike and is written by Joe Perruccio and Eric Bromberg. The film also includes actors Jesse Metcalfe and Tom Welling, with a release date yet to be determined.

Filmmaker Brian Skiba is teaming up with a one-time God and a maniacal vampire. Yes, Skiba is the director behind the upcoming thriller titled Cold Deck. And the independent film will bring together award-winning actor Alec Baldwin and Stephen Dorff. Baldwin once portrayed Dr. Jed Hill — a man who claimed to be a God among surgeons in 1993’s Malice — and Dorff is arguably most well-known for portraying the undead Deacon Frost in the big-screen adaptation of Marvel Comics' Blade (1998).

According to Deadline, Cold Deck's production has pushed forward since the film was reportedly completed...

Exclusive: Oscar-nominated actor Alec Baldwin and Blade actor Stephen Dorff are starring in the indie feature Cold Deck, Deadline has learned.

The movie, directed by Brian Skiba and produced by Corey Large and Eric Bromberg, completed production before the SAG-AFTRA strike commenced on July 14.

In the pic written by Joe Perruccio, a team of loggers stumble upon a meth cook site deep in the forest and find themselves in a fight for survival as they’re hunted down by a drug cartel.

Pic is financed by 30 Enterprises and Chinese financier Pink308 which has a $50M film fund to do eight to ten features a year. EPs Kirk Shaw, Stephanie Rennie, Ram Getz, Greg Meyer and Michael Mortensen.

Cold Deck also stars Clive Standen, Tom Welling (Clark Ken on Smallville), Jesse Metcalfe, Lochlyn Munro (Riverdale) and...

Stars: Emile Hirsch, Jake Manley, Alexandria DeBerry, John Cusack, Andrew Stevens, William Katt, Elizabeth Faith Ludlow | Written by Brian Skiba, Ben Fiore, Dawn Bursteen | Directed by Brian Skiba

It took about ten minutes for me to realize that Pursuit was going to be an epic shitshow. That’s how long it takes to get to the first shootout. Between the overuse of slow motion, blood that looks like red paint and a pile of cash that explodes into the air for no apparent reason it’s more laughable than funny.

As it turns out Rick Calloway has just shot up an undercover police operation. Why? Because the same dealers the police were targeting apparently were involved in the disappearance of his wife. So, being an expert hacker he disabled the police cameras and went in shooting. After a chase through Little Rock pretending to be the Big Apple in which...

Howdy, pardners! After Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment Group gained the North American rights to Dead Man’s Hand, Stephen Dorff, Jack Kilmer (The Nice Guys), and Cole Hauser Yellowstone) are saddling up for roles in the newly-acquired Western. The film hails from Milestone Studios and, according to Deadline, revolves around a retired gunslinger named Reno (Kilmer), who teams up with a new marshall (Hauser) to take down a cruel cattle baron, Mayor Clarence Bishop (Dorff).

Deadline’s description continues, “Reno, a newly married gunfighter, hangs up his six shooters when he says “I do” to his bride, Vegas. But when Reno kills a bandit in self-defense, he finds himself pulled back into his old ways. The bandit’s brother, the ruthless Mayor Bishop, will not let his brother’s death go unpunished. As revenge, Bishop and his private army ambush Reno and Vegas, leaving the gunfighter near death and taking Reno’s wife prisoner.

Exclusive: Lionsgate’s Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired North American rights to Dead Man’s Hand — a Western starring Stephen Dorff (True Detective), Jack Kilmer (The Nice Guys) and Cole Hauser (Yellowstone), which just recently wrapped production in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In the film from Milestone Studios, the retired gunslinger Reno (Kilmer) joins forces with a new marshal (Hauser) to take on the cruel cattle baron, Mayor Clarence Bishop (Dorff).

Reno, a newly married gunfighter, hangs up his six-shooters when he says “I do” to his bride, Vegas. But when Reno kills a bandit in self-defense, he finds himself pulled back into his old ways. The bandit’s brother, the ruthless Mayor Bishop, will not let his brother’s death go unpunished. As revenge, Bishop and his private army ambush Reno and Vegas, leaving the gunfighter near death and taking Reno’s wife prisoner. Reno then teams up with...

Exclusive: NewFilmmakers Los Angeles today announced the winners of its 10th annual Best of Nfmla Awards.

The list included Huella‘s Gabriella Ortega (Best New Filmmaker), Tracey Deer’s Beans (Best Feature Film), Nelson G. Navarrete and Maxx Caicedo’s A La Calle (Best Documentary Feature Film), Ciara Lacy’s This Is the Way We Rise, JJ Shpall’s Date Nite, Isabella Issa’s Yellow Girl and Me, Sarah Clift’s The Birth of Valerie Venus, Gustavo Milan’s Under the Heavens (Seiva Bruta), Bastien Dubois’ Souvenir Souvenir, Devone X. King’s Last Black Man (Best New Media & Experimental), Arnold Mwanjila’s Taliya (Best Screenplay), I Make Good Sounds at Parties‘ Russell Goldman, Yellow Girl and Me‘s Dior Wilson, Sweet Potatoes‘ Luke Sargent (Best Cinematography), From Here‘s Christina Antonakos-Wallace and Aletta Von Vietinghoff (Best Film Editing), The Fire Next Time‘s Jose Pablo Ramirez (Best Sound Design) and Livin’ in the Light‘s Onry (Best Score).

The Best of Nfmla Awards look to recognize the best talent in independent cinema from around the globe. This year’s edition included 125 nominees across 16 Award categories. All nominated projects screened as part of the Nfmla Monthly Film Festival 2021 season which ran from January 1st, 2021 through December 31st, 2021. Best New Filmmaker winner Ortega claimed a 3,000 Anthony Rhulen grant, with numerous other winners nabbing grants of 2,000. Over 5,000 in Blackmagic Design equipment will also be awarded to select winners, with post host Picture Shop hosting a post-production workshop for all nominees and winners.

Nfmla is a Los Angeles-based arts and culture non-profit organization that works year-round to highlight the works of independent artists. Its full list of 2022 Best of Nfmla nominees can be found here.

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Exclusive: Doc10 today announced its first-ever awards program, which this year will honor documentary filmmakers N. Bird Runningwater and Jessica Devaney.

The inaugural Luminary Award, celebrating filmmakers that shine a light on vital social issues, will be presented to Runningwater, who has supported such films as Billy Luther’s Miss Navajo and Heather Rae’s Trudell. The Vanguard Award, created to honor innovative and important documentary filmmakers, will be presented to Devaney, producer of some 17 shorts and features, including 2021 Doc10 selection Pray Away.

“The inaugural Luminary and Vanguard Awards were born to celebrate and promote the power of independent filmmaking,” said Doc10 co-founders Steve Cohen and Paula Froehle. “Jess and Bird represent the now and the future of great, cinematic documentary producing and how independent, fearless storytelling can promote real change in our world.” The 7th Doc10 documentary film festival will run from May 19-22 at the Davis Theatre and the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. To find out more about it or to purchase tickets, click here.

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Exclusive: Patricia Velasquez (The Mummy) will exec produce and star in the sci-fi thriller Space Racer, from writer-director Erik Bernard (Free Dead or Alive), with NFTs related to the film to be released by Karman Studios at the Cannes Marché du Film.

The pic from Bernard’s Rebel 6 Films and Gemini Films takes place in the year 2084. It finds Earth beginning to look to space for survival, at a point when it’s barely able to sustain human life. At this juncture, humans have contacted alien race, with pilot James Colt earning the opportunity to represent Earth in its first intergalactic race.

Bernard and Lyndon Tait wrote the script for the pic, which is intended to set up a trilogy. Kevin Grevioux (Underworld) is producing, with Velasquez, Bernard and Courtney LeMarco (Hoarders) exec producing, and Jasmin Espada (Free Dead or Alive) serving as co-producer. Velasquez is represented by Insurge-Ent and Innovative Artists; Bernard and LeMarco by Espada PR & Entertainment; and Grevioux by Brent Johnson of One Entertainment.

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Exclusive: Toric Films‘ Ojan Missaghi and David Wachs will be seeking distribution for their films Day Labor, Out of Hand and Deadly Games at this year’s Cannes Film Festival—with actor Gilles Marini (The Rookie) also on hand to promote the company’s slate.

Day Labor watches as a Latin American veteran seeks work as a day laborer in order to keep his family afloat. A regular day turns into a deadly game of survival when he is mistakenly dropped off at a private ranch in El Paso, Texas to be hunted for sport. R. Ellis Frazier directed the pic, which stars Amy Johnston, Louis Mandylor and Danny Arrory.

Director Brian Skiba’s Out of Hand is a thriller centered on Valerie (Louise Linton), a charismatic and sophisticated college professor who is married to a younger personal trainer heartthrob, David (Pierson Fode). When the couple leaves town to a secluded cabin in Lake Tahoe, things start to unravel. William Baldwin, Joana Metrass , David Wachs and Christy St. John also star.

Then, there’s Deadly Games, in which four female influencers are invited to paradise island to partake in a million-dollar opportunity by a crypto mogul, fighting to gain the most subscribers during their weekend for the paysite contest. When one of the girls ends up dead, and the murder gets kept a secret, the influencers get more than they bargained for. Missaghi directed and produced the pic, which stars Marini, Metrass, Vanessa Angel, Roberto ‘Sanz’ Sanchez, Krista Kalmus and Emelina Adams.

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Exclusive: Lost Souls collaborators John F. Uranday and Bobby Cloud will be bringing their new indie drama Depth of Field to Cannes’ Marché du Film.

The film directed by Uranday tells the story of Charles (Rafael Petardi), a widower who has given up on life, until he meets a foster child next door that changes his life forever. It also stars George Stroumboulopoulos (The Communist’s Daughter), Jay Acovone (Fox’s Lethal Weapon), Carrie Quinn Dolin (Bruce Almighty), Ella Thomas (NCIS: Los Angeles), Diana Diaz (Music) and Thea Saccoliti. Producer Cloud, who is also an attorney, co-wrote the script with Uranday, with Jeffrey Stevens serving as a story contributor. Uranday also produced, along with Orlin Dobreff, Mike G, Rafael Petardi, Tom Summers and Tristan Salas Henry, with Stroumboulopoulos serving as exec producer. Uranday and Cloud are repped by Espada PR & Entertainment.

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Exclusive: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American rights to the romance Bristol Fashion, with plans to release it across internet and satellite platforms on June 7th.

The film tells the story of a young transgender woman, Christina (Lea Nayeli), who escapes her troubled home to find solace in a dilapidated boatyard. When she buys a broken-down boat for that purpose, she gets more than she bargained for in the boat’s owner, Esteban (Raul A. Perez)—warm, funny and dying to take her to dinner. He gives her a place to stay on an abandoned barge and helps her fix up the boat, and slowly but surely, they find themselves navigating the sometimes-messy waters of a straight man falling for a trans woman.

Pierre Guillet and Timothy John Foster wrote and produced Bristol Fashion, with Guillet directing. Richard Difrisco also stars. Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire the film directly with Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films. Its trailer can be found below.

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Exclusive: Deadline has a new trailer for Lisa Hepner and Guy Mossman’s feature doc The Human Trial, which Abramorama is releasing in North American theaters and on its Watch Now @ Home virtual cinema platform on June 24th.

More than a decade in the making, the film follows a groundbreaking clinical trial that peels back the headlines to show the sweat, passion and sacrifice behind every breakthrough cure. In 2011, Hepner and her husband Mossman heard about a radical stem cell treatment for diabetes, a disease that shockingly kills more than five million people each year. Driven by a desire to cure Lisa of her own type 1 diabetes, the filmmakers were given unprecedented access to a clinical trial—only the sixth ever stem cell trial in the world. What follows is an intimate journey with the patients and scientists who put themselves on the line to be first.

Hepner scripted the project and produced alongside Jonathan Formica (Lost & Found) and Kristin Lesko (O.J.: Made in America), with diabetes org Beyond Type 1 exec producing alongside Amy Rapp (The Woman Who Wasn’t There), Marla Oringer, Greer Wylder and Thom Scher. Check out the trailer for The Human Trial below.

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Exclusive: Deadline has an exclusive clip from the feature doc Since I Been Down, which is set for release on VOD on May 24th.

The film from director Gilda Sheppard stakes us to Tacoma, Washington. Influenced by the national drug war frenzy and the fear-based culture of punishment in the 1980s and ’90s, Tacoma sacrificed its most vulnerable children to a life behind bars. These children, who are now adults, cannot be silenced. As we hear them tell their stories, bravely, unapologetically, we realize: This is the story of ‘Everytown USA’.

June Nho Ivers, Saman Maydani and Bonnie Benjamin-Phariss produced the doc, with Sheppard and David Menschel serving as executive producers. Our exclusive clip from the film can be found below.

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Hallie and Audrey McPherson will be bringing their dramedy Earthquake Country to Dances With Films on Saturday, June 18th at 7:15 p.m. Pst.

The film written and directed by The McPherson Sisters centers on Rhyme Osbourne (Lydian Blossom), who is fed up with her mother’s alcoholism and delusions of grandeur and her father’s literal inability to get off the couch. On her eighteenth birthday, Rhyme puts into motion a plan that will cut ties with her family—for good. Set in 2007 in the seemingly idyllic Ojai, CA, the film is a coming-of-age story that explores the creation of family mythology, the malleability of memory, and the sometimes suffocating intimacy of the nuclear family.

Deborah Marks-Bertling, Alex Sorian Brown, Todd Caroll, Nigel Vonas, Melina Emilie, Madison Widener and Kyle Hester also star. Pic was produced by the McPhersons and Melina Hayum.

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Filmmaker Alex Proyas‘ production outfit Heretic Foundation and development company Mystery Clock Cinema this week announced a co-production/financing partnership with the UK-based 108 Media, which has launched worldwide sales and packaging on his latest feature, the horror Sister Darkness.

The female-driven film marking the first of several forthcoming collaborations between the parties is set in the UK in the 1930s—at a time when women were marginalized and exploited. It follows the newly-wed but unhappy Alice as she stumbles across her doppelgänger Isla, whose existence is a mystery seeped in a tale of bloody retribution against her oppressors, the hellish supernatural nightscape, and a dread uprising against the deceitful aristocracy. Pic will go before camera in Australia later this year.

Proyas negotiated his multi-faceted deal with 108 Media’s CEO Abhi Rastogi and President (Production) Justin Deimen, with support from Rod Smith and Steven Rosser (Legal Counsel), General Manager & Executive Producer Andrew Robinson, Studio Producer Erasmo (Raz) Raimundo, and Craig Emmanuel of Paul Hastings in Los Angeles.

***

Gkids has acquired North American rights to writer-director Atsuko Ishizuka’s first original feature Goodbye, Don Glees!. The distributor will release both the original Japanese-language version of the film and an all-new English-language dub in theaters this year, on the heels of the film’s February 2022 release in Japan.

The film produced by the acclaimed studio Madhouse follows the story of three friends over the course of one summer, as their backyard adventures turn one small incident into a life-changing journey. It features the voices of Ayumu Murase, Natsuki Hanae, Kana Hanazawa and Yuuki Kaji, and is represented internationally by Kadokawa.

(Welcome to SlashClips, a series where we bring you exclusive clips from hot new Digital, Blu-ray and theatrical releases you won't see anywhere else!)In this edition:

Pursuit  A Week in Paradise The Desperate Hour A Peloton of One

Our first exclusive clip of the week features movie star John Cusack in Lionsgate's action-thriller "Pursuit," which also stars Emile Hirsch ("Into the Wild"), Jake Manley ("Midway"), and Elizabeth Ludlow ("Godzilla: King of Monsters"). It was co-written by Brian Skiba ("The 2nd"), Andrew Stevens ("Night Eyes"), Dawn Bursteen, and Ben Fiore and directed by Skiba. The film is scheduled to hit select theaters and on demand on February 18,...

The post Clips Round-Up: John Cusack In Pursuit, Malin Akerman Has A Week In Paradise, & More! [Exclusive] appeared first on /Film.

Here are two questions I have never asked myself: (1) "Where is my wife?" (2) "Did my father have something to do with her disappearance?" When you are Emile Hirsch and your father is John Cusack, though, and you find yourself in a new trailer for a movie called Pursuit, those questions become entirely relevant. Jake Manley, Elizabeth Ludlow and William Katt also star; Brian Skiba directed. Per the official verbiage: "John Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank) and Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) star in this action thriller about a tough cop's hunt for an even tougher criminal. "Detective Breslin crosses paths with Calloway (Hirsch), a ruthless hacker desperate to find his wife, who has been kidnapped by a drug cartel. When Calloway escapes police custody,...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

John Cusack is not one to mess with in the trailer for upcoming thriller Pursuit. The Lionsgate film, directed by Brian Skiba, stars Cusack as a crime boss alongside Emile Hirsch, Jake Manley, and Elizabeth Ludlow.

The high-action trailer showcases Hirsch’s hacker character (complete with face tattoos) on the run after his wife is kidnapped.

The official synopsis notes, “John Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank) and Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) star in this action thriller about a tough cop’s hunt for an even tougher criminal. Detective Breslin crosses...

"Keep me alive and I will give you names." Lionsgate has revealed an official trailer for an action film titled Pursuit, a new film from genre filmmaker Brian Skiba. Another of these forgettable direct-to-video looking action movies? Unfortunately. John Cusack and Emile Hirsch star in this action thriller about a troubled cop's hunt for a ruthless hacker, who’s committing savage violence as he searches for his kidnapped wife. But is Calloway's crime-boss father somehow involved in this explosive situation? Starring Jake Manley, Elizabeth Ludlow, William Katt, Andrew Stevens, and Graham Patrick Martin. This guy isn't the best director, he often makes action schlock, but these movies still do look fun in a beer & pizza movie night kind of way. I am also amazed they still totally overdo the hacker character in movies like this. Check it out. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Brian Skiba's Pursuit, direct from Lionsgate's...

Husband and wife Alan B. and Dawn Bursteen are launching a new LA-based production company, Milestone Studios.

They plan to create original content and develop film adaptations from fiction and non-fiction novels, articles, autobiographical works, and other source materials to produce up to 12 films over the next two years through private equity financing with budgets ranging from $5M – $15M per title across genres.

Milestone has been active already, recently wrapping action-thriller Pursuit, starring Emile Hirsch and John Cusack, directed by Brian Skiba, to be distributed by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Milestone also completed three westerns, The Desperate Riders, Last Shoot Out and Catch the Bullet, featuring Bruce Dern, Tom Skerrit, Trace Adkins, Tom Berenger, Cam Gigandet and Peter Facinelli. With a few productions under its belt, it’s formally announcing the banner.

Its upcoming slate includes noir thriller The Minute You Wake Up Dead, directed by Michael Mailer, action feature Vertical,...

As is obligatory for the start of a new year, it’s time to look back at the sh*t-show that was last year and pick out our highlights of the year… This time round it’s Phil’s Top 10 Action Movies of 2020. Which are, in no particular order:

The 2Nd

Secret-service agent Vic Davis (Ryan Phillippe) is on his way to pick up his estranged son, Shawn (Jack Griffo), from his college campus when he finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes terrorist operation. The daughter of a Supreme Court Justice is the target and this armed faction will stop at nothing to kidnap her. Vic quickly realizes that there’s no one coming to rescue them and must now use his entire set of skills to save her and his son from an incredibly dangerous and lethal situation.

Yes, we’re in Die Hard territory once again for The 2nd…...

Stars: Ryan Phillipe, Casper Van Dien, Jack Griffo, Lexi Simonsen, Richard Burgi, Samaire Armstrong | Written by Eric Bromberg, Paul Taegel | Directed by Brian Skiba

Secret-service agent Vic Davis (Ryan Phillippe) is on his way to pick up his estranged son, Shawn (Jack Griffo), from his college campus when he finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes terrorist operation. The daughter of a Supreme Court Justice is the target and this armed faction will stop at nothing to kidnap her. Vic quickly realizes that there’s no one coming to rescue them and must now use his entire set of skills to save her and his son from an incredibly dangerous and lethal situation.

Ok, Ok. Yes, we’re in Die Hard territory once again for The 2nd… even down to the seasonal setting. However unlike the myriad of Die Hard clones released these days, where our hero takes out...

If you're looking for a new action movie to check out this week, The 2nd just dropped On Demand and on Digital and we've got an exclusive clip offering a sneak peek at the bloody brawling. Ryan Phillippe stars as secret service agent Vic Davis, who gets caught up in a terrorist kidnapping scheme on his way to pick up his estranged son (Jack Griffo) from college. Directed by Brian Skiba from a script by Eric Bromberg and Paul Taegel, The 2nd also stars Casper Van Dien and Lexi Simonsen. The film is available on September 1, 2020 …...

Casper Van Dien, who most action/sci-fi fans will know as Johnny Rico from the Starship Troopers franchise, is perhaps busier today than he's ever been. A quick glance at IMDb reveals that the actor has 10 credits to his name, and counting, in 2020 alone. Next up for Dien is The 2nd, a new action/thriller that sees him taking on the bad guy role against Ryan Phillippe.

The 2nd, directed by Brian Skiba, centers on secret-service agent Vic Davis (Ryan Phillippe) who is on his way to pick up his estranged son, Shawn (Jack Griffo), from college. He soon finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes terrorist operation. The daughter of a Supreme Court Justice is the target and a well-armed faction will stop at nothing to kidnap her. Vic discovers that nobody is coming to their rescue. So, he must use his set of skills to save her...

Directed by Brian Skiba, The 2nd features Ryan Phillippe as Vic Davis, a Secret Service Agent who is caught in a high stakes terrorist operation and must use his skill sets to take down this dangerous outfit. Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) is the leader of this group who are out [...]

The post Ryan Phillippe Takes On Casper Van Dien In Action Fueled ‘The 2nd’ Trailer appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Momentum Pictures has debuted a new trailer for the action flick ‘The 2nd’ starring Ryan Phillippe’.

Secret-service agent Vic Davis (Ryan Phillippe) is on his way to pick up his estranged son, Shawn (Jack Griffo), from his college campus when he finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes terrorist operation. The daughter of a Supreme Court Justice (Lexi Simonsen) is the target and this armed faction will stop at nothing to kidnap her Vic quickly realizes that there’s no one coming to rescue them and must now use his entire set of skills to save her and his son from an incredibly dangerous and lethal situation.

Directed by Brian Skiba, the film also stars Casper Van Dien, Jack Griffo and Lexi Simonsen.

Also in trailers – Ethan Hawke stars in trailer for ‘Tesla’

The film hits Demand and On Digital September 1st.

The post Ryan Phillippe is handy with...

Hey, look. It's Die Hard on a college campus! Momentum Pictures is releasing Brian Skiba's action flick The 2nd On Demand and digital on September 1st. It stars Ryan Phillippe and Casper Van Dien along with Jack Griffo, Lexi Simonsen   The official poster - with a splash of the American flag at the bottom there to remind you that Americans are not terrorists - and trailer were released today. I may have given a pass to a smaller indie action flick like this in the past but I find myself tickled with the idea of Ryan Phillippe as an action star.   See him in action in the trailer below.    While picking his son up from college, Secret Service Agent Vic Davies finds...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

"Did you saw your driver was new?" Momentum Pics has unveiled an official trailer for an action thriller titled The 2nd, from Arizona-native genre filmmaker Brian Skiba. Unfortunately this looks like jingoistic propaganda disguised as an action movie - tread carefully. Ryan Phillippe stars as a secret service agent on his way to pick up his estranged son from his college campus when he finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes terrorist operation. The daughter of a Supreme Court Justice, and his son's friend, is the target and this armed faction will stop at nothing to kidnap her and use her as leverage for a pending landmark legal case. Also starring Casper Van Dien, Jack Griffo, Lexi Simonsen, & William Katt. No surprise - this looks really awful. A wannabe, knock-off White House Down with bad lighting and bad performances. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Brian Skiba's The 2nd,...

Brian Skiba directs the film.

Screen can reveal a first-look image from Ryan Phillippe action thriller The 2nd that Voltage Pictures is discussing with worldwide buyers at Efm.

Brian Skiba directs the film about Vic Davis (Phillippe), a secret service operative visiting his estranged son at college who gets caught up in a hostage situation involving the daughter of a Supreme Court judge.

Jack Griffo, Samaire Armstrong, and Casper Van Dien also star.

Geoffrey James Clark, Phillippe, James Shavick, Skiba, and Josh Tessier produce, and Nicolas Chartier, Jonathan Deckter, and Drew Ryce are executive producers.

Efm 2020: the buzz titles...

Exclusive: Newcomer Reagan Rozas, Kyanna Simpson (Chambers), Emma Meisel (American Horror Story: 1984), Lexi Simonsen (2nd), Kevin Rahm (Madam Secretary) and All American‘s Da’Vinchi are set as series regulars opposite Jordana Spiro and Josh Andrés Rivera in Vegas High, HBO Max’s coming-of-age period drama pilot from writer Sarah-Raquel Jimenez, director Gillian Robespierre and Michael Showalter’s Semi-Formal Prods.

Written by Jimenez and directed by Robespierre, Vegas High is inspired by Jimenez’s own experience. It is a 1990s-set coming-of-age story about Laura (Rozas), a girl who’s caught between two worlds: the fast-paced lifestyle of Las Vegas and her strong Mormon faith and community.

Rozas’ Laura Hernandez is a sweet, poetic soul and devout Mormon who lives in Las Vegas with her blended family while attending Vegas High.

Meisel will play Maddie, Laura’s best friend, Maddie is a devout Mormon girl, and is regularly seen attending events with...

Ammo Content released Brian Skiba's rabbit and gore fueled horror flick Rottentail last week. It is out on Bluray and DVD and dropped on Tvod, Amazon, Indemand, Vubiquty and VUDu as of Friday. The film stars Corin Nemic and Dominique Swain. After the lengthy synopsis below we are going to tell our U.S. readers how they can win a copy of Rottentail on DVD. Rottentail tells the bizarre tale of young Peter Cotton, who grew up in the town of Easter Falls and loves rabbits. Peter’s science project on rabbit breeding is ruined when the school bullies beat up, and actually kill, his rabbit. Years later, the kind but still shy Dr. Cotton works steadily and gently with his rabbits to cure...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Boy, we sure could use some more horror movies to watch on Easter!" Well, those untold millions who have pondered just such a thought are in luck, as Rottentail is coming to save the day later this month. This movie has actually been in the works for some time and, believe it or not, is actually based on a graphic novel of the same name, as published by Source Point Press. Now, it's finally ready to be released on DVD and Blu-ray, with select screenings happening throughout the country as well.

A trailer for the movie has made its way online and it's truly something. Top to bottom, in perhaps the best of ways, this movie looks absolutely, delightfully silly. We have a secret government project that is engineering killer rabbits for some reason, tacky practical puppet effects, very old cell phones, a rabbit man and buckets of blood.

Graphic novel Rottentail heads to the big screen with an adaptation by Brian Skiba and co-creator David C. Hayes. Corin Nemec, William McNamara, Dominique Swain, Laurie Love and Byron Browne star with Skiba also directing. Hollywood, CA — Award-winning filmmaker Brian Skiba is set to premiere his new hilarious Easter nightmare, Rottentail …

The post Brian Skiba’s Easter comedy nightmare, Rottentail in cinemas April 12 appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.

Graphic novel Rottentail heads to the big screen with an adaptation by Brian Skiba and co-creator David C. Hayes. Starring Corin Nemec, William McNamara, Dominique Swain, Laurie Love, Gianni Capaldi and Byron Browne, Rottentail tells the bizarre tale of young Peter Cotton, who grew up in the town of Easter Falls and loves rabbits…

Peter’s Science project on rabbit breeding is ruined when the school bullies beat up, and actually kill, his rabbit. Years later, the kind but still shy Dr. Cotton works steadily and gently with his rabbits to cure human infertility. Unbeknownst to Peter, the military is perverting his work, developing fierce soldiers with strength far exceeding a human of their size, and with Peter’s fertility serum, the ability to breed in the field. Peter discovers the true nature of the experiment and attempts to stop it. But in an accident of poetic justice, a bite...

Our friends at Ammo Entertainment have been touring Brian Skiba's indie action flick Chokehold this month. The tour will end in New York City on the 28th and though we are a bit behind on the schedule if you are a fan of Mma fighter crossovers into film then you may want to check out Chokehold and its star, Mma fighter Melissa Croden. Also of interest to any Mlb fans out there, one of the film's executive producers is six-time all-star Kenny Lofton and he has been touring with the film. The final two stops of the tour are in Chicago on the 24th and 25th, then NYC on the 27th and 28th.  Chokehold will be available on VOD, Tvod and DVD on March 5th....

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Continuing our coverage of all things Comic Con-related, the first official poster for Brian Skiba’s demented pic Rottentail, about a half-man/half-rabbit hybrid, has just been released! For any fans of The Fly-esque fare of the ‘80s – keep watch of this one. Tentatively scheduled for an October release, Rottentail is an adaption of the 2015 graphic […]

The post #SDCC18: Brian Skiba’s Rottentail Gets New Poster appeared first on Dread Central.

Based on Stan Winston’s Pumpkinhead, a film about a demon summoned to exact vengeance on a group of teenagers, this collection from Fright Rags has something for everyone. Also in this round-up: All Hell Breaks Loose and Excess Flesh release information and Deprivation production details.

Fright Rags’ Pumpkinhead Collection: “Pumpkinhead V1 (Shirt) from $27.00

Art by Chris Lovell.

Pumpkinhead V1 (Zippered Hoodie) $47.00

Art by Chris Lovell.

Pumpkinhead V2 (Shirt) from $27.00

Art by Godmachine.

Pumpkinhead V2 (Baseball Tee) $37.00

Art by Godmachine.

Pumpkinhead 18X24 Screenprinted Poster $35.00

Limited To 175 Prints.

– 18×24 screen printed poster

– Art by Matt Tobin

Pumpkinhead 18X24 Screenprinted Poster (Variant) $45.00

Limited To 50 Prints.

– 18×24 screen printed poster

– Art by Matt Tobin.

Please note that both versions of the Pumpkinhead shirt and hoodie are printed on 100% pre-shrunk Cotton and ships in 1-2 business days. Us customers: Please allow 3-5 days for delivery. International customers: Please allow 10-14 days for delivery.”

For more information on this collection,...