EXCLUSIVE: Angel Studios has updated on western thriller Rode To Ruin starring Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman and Laura Linney and reports a robust response on its first foray into pre-sales.
Production is underway in New Mexico on the story of a retired US Marshal on a decades-long search for his wife’s killer who encounters an ageing outlaw and a buried secret. Keaton directs, and Freeman and Lori McCreary’s Revelations Entertainment produces with Keaton’s George & Leona Productions.
Angel acquired worldwide rights prior to TIFF and has licensed Latin America (California Filmes), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Greece (The Film Group), CIS and Baltics (Paradise), and Spain (Key 2 Media).
Galapagos Films has picked up Eastern European rights, Jucer will release in the former Yugoslavia, Empire will distribute in sub-Saharan Africa, and Tulip will distribute in Israel. Offers are being negotiated in the UK & Ireland, Australia, and Middle East.
Jared Geesey, EVP of international, said the move into pre-sales allows Angel to acquire worldwide rights on select titles and offer its network of 22 international buyers the first option to come in early on funding before it takes the project to market. Angel will distribute in the US subject to the approval of its Angel Guild members, as is customary at the company.
“We still think pre-sales play an important part in solving the funding puzzle,” Geesey said. “We’ve had four titles this year where we just picked up domestic rights and we wanted to let our partners come in early on the funding.”
He continued, “We don’t just think of it as a sale. We partner with them on marketing and strategy and share social and media assets. It’s a true partnership.”
Since launching three years ago, Angel’s films have grossed more than $110m worldwide.
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