Nate Parker and David Oyelowo‘s long-delayed thriller Newborn is finally getting a domestic release with an exclusive partner.
The movie, which is written, directed, and produced by Parker and produced by and stars Oyelowo, is being lined up for an April 10th theatrical bow exclusively with AMC Theatres. Oyelowo and Parker are teaming with the chain on the launch via their joint production and distribution label Mansa Studios.
The dystopian psychological-thriller follows “Chris Newborn (Oyelowo), who, after serving seven years in solitary confinement, seeks to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family only to find that freedom has become a terrifying psychological battleground”.
Below is a first look image at Newborn:
Originally known as Solitary, the film that is now Newborn went into production in 2020 but became an unreleased mystery. However, as we revealed over Christmas, a distribution deal became real in recent months. The film also had to contend with the COVID period and an increasingly challenged space for indie film distribution.
Then AMC got on board with a vote of distribution confidence
“Newborn is the kind of bold, provocative, and original storytelling that comes alive on the big screen,” commented Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Chief Content Officer, AMC Theatres today to Deadline. “We’re proud to be the exclusive exhibitor supporting a release model that prioritizes theatrical.”
Oyelowo said today: “When it came to our distribution goals, AMC truly understood the empowering direct-to-consumer nature of the partnership we were seeking for our film while embracing the non-algorithmic yet immersive experience we wanted the audience to have.” Director Parker added: “It was essential to us that audiences experience this emotionally charged, edge-of-your-seat thriller together—on the biggest possible stage, and AMC provides both scale and a dedicated audience.”
According to the duo, their Mansa has raised $12M in seed funding led by MaC Venture Capital, with participation from WndrCo, Galaxy Investment Partners, Base Ventures, Rainmaker Films, Black Capital VC, K Period Media, and Robert F. Smith.
Olivia Washington (Breaking), Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan) and Jimmie Fails (The Last Black Man in San Francisco) also star in the film. Producers are Aaron L. Gilbert and Christina Lee Storm, alongside Parker, and Oyelowo through his Yoruba Saxon banner.
The latest effort from Sundance-acclaimed helmer and CAA-repped Parker follows his Venice title American Skin and TV drama Baselines releases As his career ascended in 2016, Birth Of A Nation director Parker faced old accusations of sexual assault from 1999. Charges that he denied and was acquitted of decades before.
Golden Globe, Emmy, and BAFTA nominee Oyelowo, who is also represented by CAA, is known for movies including Ava DuVernay’s Selma and Lee Daniels’ The Butler. He also was the lead in the Taylor Sheridan and Paramount+ western limited series Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
Source: Deadline
