Here’s some news that has been developing over the past few days. It looks like 20th Century Studios and its parent company Disney will no longer release the acclaimed Jeff Niichols motorcycle drama, The Bikeriders.
Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer lead the cast of the film which recently screened at the BFI London Film Festival to great acclaim from critics and paying fans. The film had been set for a December 1st release but was dropped, the reasons for which aren’t completely clear (Deadline has some details though). However, more positively, Focus Features has now picked up the project and will release the film with Universal distributing internationally, including in the UK.
The film is s a furious drama following the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club through the lives of its members. Inspired by Danny Lyon’s iconic book of photography,“The Bikeriders” immerses you in the look, feel, and sounds of the bare-knuckled, grease-covered subculture of ’60s motorcycle riders. Kathy (Comer), a strong-willed member of the Vandals who’s married to a wild, reckless bikerider named Benny (Butler), recounts the Vandals’ evolution over the course of a decade, beginning as a local club of outsiders united by good times, rumbling bikes, and respect for their strong, steady leader Johnny (Hardy). Over the years, Kathy tries her best to navigate her husband’s untamed nature and his allegiance to Johnny, with whom she feels she must compete for Benny’s attention. As life in the Vandals gets more dangerous, and the club threatens to become a more sinister gang, Kathy, Benny and Johnny are forced to make choices about their loyalty to the club and to each other.
Sarah Green, p.g.a., Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, p.g.a. and Arnon Milchan are the producers. Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Sam Hanson, David Kern and Fred Berger are the executive producers.
This film looks great and I’m pleased it has been picked up within days of the issues it had.
More on release dates etc as and when it becomes available.
