Saban Films acquires U.S. Distribution Rights To “SPEED KILLS” Starring John Travolta

Saban Films acquires U.S. DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO “SPEED KILLS” STARRING JOHN TRAVOLTA

CANNES (May 19, 2017) – Saban Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights from Hannibal Classics to John Luessenhop’s (Takers, Texas Chainsaw 3D) Speed Kills, which will star Academy Award® Nominee John Travolta (Pulp Fiction, Grease), Academy Award® Winner Mira Sorvino (Romy and Michele's High School Reunion), Katheryn Winnick (“Vikings”), Jordi Molla ( “Blow” ), James Remar and Kellan Lutz (the Twilight franchise).  The action thriller will be produced by Richard Rionda Del Castro for Hannibal Classics, Blue Rider Entertainment and Oscar Generale.

Penned by Luessenhop and David Aaron Cohen, Speed Kills follows the true story of speedboat racing champion and multimillionaire Don Aronow (Travolta), who leads a double life that lands him in trouble with the law and drug lords. The film will begin principal photography at the end of the month in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said: “John Travolta has the uncanny ability to transform into true, larger than life characters. This high octane, high end action thriller is the perfect showcase for John's profound acting prowess.

Hannibal Films’ Richard Rionda Del Castro said: “We have a long history of success with Saban as our Domestic partner and we anticipate a runaway hit with Speed Kills”.

Speed Kills marks Saban Films’ third collaboration with Richard Rionda Del Castro of Hannibal Classics following USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, starring Nicolas Cage and I Am Wrath, which also starred Travolta.

Ness Saban and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban Films with Richard Rionda Del Castro on behalf of Hannibal handling Worldwide sales.

At Cannes, Saban Films just announced acquiring U.S. distribution rights to Brian Smrz’s upcoming thriller 24 Hours to Live, starring Academy Award® Nominee Ethan Hawke, Chinese actress Xu Qing, Paul Anderson, Liam Cunningham, and Golden Globe® Winner Rutger Hauer.

Saban Films also recently acquired the North American distribution rights to: Ric Roman Waugh’s Shot Caller starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Lake Bell; John Stockwell’s Armed Response starring Wesley Snipes and Anne Heche; Alexandros Avranas’ True Crime starring Jim Carrey; Small Town Crime starring John Hawkes, Anthony Anderson, and Octavia Spencer; FilmNation’s sci-fi film Kill Switch starring Dan Stevens and Bérénice Marlohe; and Roland Joffé’s The Forgiven starring Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana.

About Saban Films
Saban Films, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group (“SCG”), is a film acquisition and distribution company which acquires high-quality, feature films to distribute in North America. Focusing on commercial, talent driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production for release across multiple platforms, including a day and date theatrical/VOD release strategy. Based in Los Angeles, Saban Films was established by Haim Saban, SCG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and is led by Bill Bromiley who serves as president, Shanan Becker, Chief Financial Officer and Ness Saban, Director of Business Development.

Since the company’s launch in 2014, Saban Films has released 23 films.  The 2017 Saban Films slate includes: John Michael McDonagh’s War on Everyone starring Michael Peña, Alexander Skarsgård, Theo James, and Tessa Thompson; Colm McCarthy’s critically acclaimed apocalyptic thriller The Girl with All the Gifts starring Glenn Close, Gemma Arterton and Paddy Considine; Walter Hill’s The Assignment starring Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia; Jonathan Mostow’s The Hunter’s Prayer starring Sam Worthington and Odeya Rush; and Sean Penn’s The Last Face starring Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem.

About Hannibal Classics
Hannibal Classics, founded in 2010 by Richard Rionda Del Castro, specializes in the production, financing and distribution of feature length Theatrical Motion Pictures with large budgets.

Its most recent films include Vengeance: A Love Story, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, I Am Wrath and Heist. Upcoming projects include the $60M budget disaster epic Tsunami L.A., the action films Red Squad, Zander, The Old Rifle, The Quarterback and a reboot of the 1997 cult French film Dobermann entitled Dobermann: Cops’ Blood Never Dries.