By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The theatrical debut will follow the film’s world premiere at SXSW.
Deadline reports that RLJE Films has picked up North American, UK, Ireland and Australian rights to ARCADIAN, Nicolas Cage’s latest genre outing. A theatrical release has been set for April 12, and the movie will debut on Shudder and AMC+ later in the year. Benjamin Brewer, the lead visual effects artist on EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, directed from a script by Michael Nilon, who has produced numerous past Cage flicks including PAY THE GHOST and WILLY’S WONDERLAND. The cast also includes Jaeden Martell (IT), Maxwell Jenkins and Sadie Soverall. The synopsis: “ARCADIAN takes place in a near future, where normal life on Earth has been decimated. Paul [Cage] and his two sons, Thomas [Jenkins] and Joseph [Martell], have been living a half-life–tranquility by day and torment by night. Every night, after the sun sets, they face the unrelenting attacks of a mysterious and violent evil. One day, when Thomas doesn’t return home before sundown, Paul must leave the safety of their fortified farm to find him. A nightmarish battle ensues that forces the family to execute a desperate plan to survive.”
“I’m so glad that ARCADIAN has found a home with RLJE Films,” Brewer says, “and that they will be bringing the film to theaters for audiences to enjoy, which is a singular thrill for filmmakers. I was so moved by the work everyone did on this movie, and I’m ecstatic that RLJE Films is honoring it in this special way.”
RLJE’s Mark Ward calls the movie “an instant knockout,” and adds, “Michael Nilon’s script deftly balances between the riveting thrills of a creature feature and the hopeful heart at the core of Paul’s family, played to perfection by Cage, Martel, and Jenkins.”
