It was a huge day for Angel Studios at CinemaCon, which is taking place right now in Las Vegas. The studio known for its “value-based”, often Christian-themed content is expanding in a big way, and at today’s presentation, it announced multiple huge projects with some pretty big names attached. These are movies that I think some people are going to want to show up for, or at least they managed to catch my attention. Here are the ones that did.
We already know about Andy Serkis’ animated Animal Farm adaptation (trailer here), which hits theaters on May 1st. So let’s take a peek at the rest…
Opening on July 3rd is Young Washington, directed by Jon Erwin (I Can Only Imagine) and starring William Franklyn-Miller as a young George Washington prior to the American Revolution. Also in the cast are Kelsey Grammer, Mary-Louise Parker, and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley.
SYNOPSIS: Before he was the Father of a Nation, he was a soldier fighting to survive. A single misstep thrusts young George Washington into the center of a global conflict, testing his honor, loyalty, and courage. As alliances crumble and the frontier erupts into war, he must confront not only his enemies but the man he’s becoming. This is the untold story of Young Washington.
Hitting theaters on August 14th is Cold War era Reagan-Gorbachev drama The Brink of War, directed by Michael Russell Gunn and starring Emmy Award winner Jeff Daniels, Jared Harris, Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons, and Hope Davis, along with Branka Katić, Aya Cash, and Guy Burnet.
It’s kinda interesting to see ultra-liberal Jeff Daniels playing the conservative icon, Ronald Reagan.
Synopsis: President Reagan races against time to salvage a deal with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that could dismantle nuclear arsenals – or ignite disaster. With pressure mounting on all sides, every word spoken brings the world closer to peace or destruction.
Definitely right up my alley and arriving on September 11th is Runner, an action flick from Expend4bles director Scott Waugh that teams Owen Wilson and Alan Ritchson. Damn! Also in the cast are Rodrigo Santoro, Leila George, Kate Box, Peta Sergeant, Geraldine Hakewill, Cecilia Toussaint, and Scarlett Crabtree.
Synopsis: A former soldier is thrown into a brutal race against time when a critical medical delivery makes him the target of a ruthless cartel. With betrayal closing in from every side, he must survive the chase and deliver his cargo before an innocent child runs out of time.
The 1947 John Wayne western classic Angel and the Badman gets a reimagining led by Tommy Lee Jones, Zachary Levi, and Neal McDonough. Opening this October, the film is directed by Julio Quintana.
SYNOPSIS: When feared outlaw Quirt Evans staggers onto a rancher’s land with a bullet in his back, he expects a quick death, not mercy. But Penny, the rancher’s daughter, offers him a chance at something he’s never had: a life beyond violence. However, the past doesn’t forgive. With the marshal closing in and an outlaw gang ready to burn the ranch to the ground, Quirt must decide what kind of man he’ll be when the world demands blood.
It’s already been a pretty good start to the year for Angel Studios, which released the surprisingly good Kevin James rom-com Solo Mio in February to the tune of $26M. Not bad for a small $4M production.
