SABAN FILMS ACQUIRES APRIL MULLEN CONSPIRACY THRILLER “WANDER”
STARRING AARON ECKHART AND TOMMY LEE JONESLOS ANGELES (September 12, 2020) – Saban Films announced today that they have acquired North American rights to Wander starring Golden Globe® nominee Aaron Eckhart (Midway, Olympus Has Fallen), Katheryn Winnick (“Vikings,” Love & Other Drugs), Heather Graham (Netflix’s Desperados, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me) and Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men, Lincoln). April Mullen (Below Her Mouth) directed the conspiracy thriller from a script by Tim Doiron (88). April Mullen (p.g.a.) and Tim Doiron (p.g.a) also produced with VMI Worldwide’s Andre Relis (p.g.a), Verdi Productions’ Chad A. Verdi, Don Kee Productions’ Jason Allison, Aloe Entertainment’s Mary Aloe, Falconer Picture’s Douglas Falconer and James Van Der Woerd (p.g.a.).
Wander follows Arthur Bretnik (Eckhart), a mentally unstable private investigator who, after being hired to probe a suspicious death in the town of Wander, becomes convinced the case is linked to the same ‘conspiracy cover up’ that caused the death of his daughter.
Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said, “The whole cast brings heart and soul to this gripping thriller. It is a fun ride seeing Aaron Eckhart and Tommy Lee Jones in these respective roles; we’re honored to be working with April Mullen on this achievement.”
Director April Mullen added, "I’m thrilled to be working with Saban on releasing Wander to the masses. The film honors all the silent warriors who persevere and fight for the light through the darkest of circumstances."
Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal for Saban Films with Steve Break along with VMI Worldwide’s J.D. Beaufils. Executive Producers are VMI Worldwide’s J.D. Beaufils, Verdi Productions’ Michelle Verdi and Chad A. Verdi Jr., Don Kee Productions’ Michael S. Smith and Franchesca Lantz, Tamer Abaza, Jeffrey Bohn, Angie Pack, Charles Saikaley, Siren Studios’ Craig Chapman, Roger Dorman, Circle 4 Entertainment’s Adam Falkoff, Phoenicia Pictures’ Ameer Fawaz and Christelle Conan from Ingenious Media whom provided funding.
Saban Films continues to grow its presence in the industry, remaining active in the acquisition, production and distribution space and recently announced that it is entering the UK market via a partnership with Altitude Media Group. The company’s successes have run the gamut from critically acclaimed theatrical films such as The Homesman starring Hilary Swank, to two of the biggest Fathom events with horror icon and heavy metal mastermind Rob Zombie’s 3 From Hell last year and Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, the sequel to the 2001 comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back which the company partnered on after coming onboard at script stage.
Its upcoming slate includes: Dennis Dugan’s Love, Weddings & Other Disasters starring Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons, Maggie Grace, Jesse McCartney, Chandra West, Diego Boneta, Andrew Bachelor, and Veronica Ferres; Jamie Babbit’s The Stand-In with Drew Barrymore in a dual lead role alongside Michael Zegen, T.J. Miller, and Holland Taylor; Josh Duhamel’s directorial debut Buddy Games; the Alicia Silverstone wedding comedy Sister of the Groom; Nicol Paone’s Friendsgiving with Malin Akerman, Christine Taylor, Jane Seymour, Kat Dennings and Chelsea Peretti; John Suits’ Breach starring Bruce Willis; and Twist starring Michael Caine, Lena Headey and Rita Ora.
About Saban FilmsSaban 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 Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Ness Saban, Vice President of Business Development.
About VMI Worldwide:VMI Worldwide is one of the leading, independent film sales, distribution and production companies based in Hollywood, California. Founded in 2010 by Andre Relis, VMI has an impeccable reputation in the industry by building a strong collaborative and transparent relationship with filmmakers, financiers, and distributors. VMI’s mandate is to support high quality independent filmmaking by bringing together visionary talented filmmakers and collaborating with financiers and distributors. VMI's goal is to establish long-term partnerships by building strong and honest relationships, while acquiring and producing cast driven, commercial and marketable feature films, documentaries and TV content.
VMI’s latest titles include: The Last Son of Isaac LeMay starring Sam Worthington and Colson Baker, ARKANSAS starring Vince Vaughn, Liam Hemsworth and John Malkovich, WAKE UP starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Francesca Eastwood, IN HARMS WAY starring Emile Hirsh and Crystal Liu (a Asian World Film Festival Official Selection), OUTLAWS AND ANGELS starring Luke Wilson (a Sundance Official Selection), FORESAKEN starring Kiefer and Donald Sutherland (a Toronto Official Selection).
About WANGO Films:Formed in 2005 by April Mullen and Tim Doiron, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto, Wango Films is a full service production company, founded on a youthful blend of grassroots innovation and bold creativity.
About Verdi Productions:Verdi Productions is a fully-funded film production company located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, with additional satellite offices in Edgartown, Massachusetts, New York City and Los Angeles. The company pursues all aspects of filmmaking -- carrying projects from concept through postproduction.
Over the past 10 years, managing partner Chad A. Verdi and his investment partners have invested over $100 million dollars into twenty feature films. Verdi has produced five films in partnership with Emma Tillinger Koskoff and the legendary Martin Scorsese. Verdi produced BLEED FOR THIS (Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart, Katay Sagal, Ciaran Hinds), and executive produced SILENCE (directed by Martin Scorsese; starring Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Ken Watanabe), BAD HURT (starring Theo Rossi, Ashley Williams) and the documentary THE 50 YEAR ARGUMENT (directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi). Verdi’s next production, THE IRISHMAN, directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci will hit theaters in November.
About Don Kee Productions:Don Kee Productions is a fast-emerging television and film production and financier company, focused on bringing prominent and genuine projects to audiences across multiple platforms. The company was founded by Jason Allison, former NHL player for the Boston Bruins and the LA Kings, together with global entrepreneur and renowned financier, Michael S. Smith. Together, they have quickly established themselves by lending their passion and experience to help bring exciting, new standout TV programming and films to a widespread marketplace, including the Dixie-Mafia crime drama ARKANSAS featuring Liam Hemsworth, Vince Vaughn, John Malkovich and the action comedy THE COMEBACK TRAIL written and directed by George Gallo, starring Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, and Zach Braff.
About Aloe EntertainmentAloe Entertainment is a full service film and tv packaging production house located in Beverly Hills California. Mary Aloe and staff specialize in bringing Equity and Mezzanine financing to pictures, as well as develop in house projects from the script to screen. Aloe Entertainment and its principal owner Mary Aloe produce and /or finance 4 to 5 movies a year. Aloe’s slate of films coming out in 2020 and 2021 has Worth which premiered at Sundance 2020 starring Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci coming out worldwide on Netflix in q 1 of 2021, Breach starring Bruce Willis, Bruised starring Halle Berry premiering Sept 11th 2020 at the Toronto International Film Festival and Flag Day directed and starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Miles Teller in post-production now.
About Ingenious MediaFor 20 years, Ingenious has been at the forefront of investing in the global creative economy and in that time has raised and deployed over $10 billion. Ingenious has been involved in the production of a diverse slate of films, including the award-winning Life of Pi, Avatar, Oscar-nominated Carol, Brooklyn, five films in the successful X-Men franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, breakout British hits Suffragette and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Recent titles include Sundance Film Festival crowd-pleaser Blinded by the Light featuring the music of Bruce Springsteen, which was acquired by New Line Cinema and will be released in August 2019, Judy starring Renée Zellweger, Military Wives starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan, The Song of Names starring Clive Owen and Tim Roth, Seberg starring Kristen Stewart and The Burnt Orange Heresy starring Mick Jagger and Donald Sutherland selected as the forthcoming Venice Film Festival closer.
