Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders is set to hit the open road in 2024. Focus Features has announced the ’60s-set biker drama will open on June 21st 2024. The film was expected to be an awards season favorite and should’ve been in theaters right now, but that’s not the way things turned out.
The Bikeriders stars Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodie Comer, one Hell of a trio to center a promotional campaign around. However, after the world premiere at Telluride, Disney and 20th Century Studios struggled to figure out how to push what is essentially an indie film. Eventually, it was shopped around and found a new home at Focus Features, who know exactly what to do with this size of project.
Here is the official synopsis: 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, a strong-willed member of the Vandals who’s married to a wild, reckless bikerider named Benny, 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. 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.
Also in the cast are Nichols favorite Michael Shannon, Norman Reedus, Boyd Holbrook, and Mike Faist who plays Danny Lyon, author of the book that inspired the film.
This marks Nichols’ first feature since he delivered both Loving and Midnight Special in 2016.
A bit of irony? The June 21st date sets The Bikeriders against…A Quiet Place: Day One, a spinoff that Nichols was originally attached to before dropping out. That should make for some interesting business chatter behind the scenes.