Jun 21, 2021

Credit: Brian Zager Continuing its resilient acquisition of higher-profile commercial titles for distribution in the U.S. and Canada, Saban Films has picked up North American rights to “The Hyperions,” an indie superhero movie headed by Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride”). Saban Films has set a theatrical release for Feb. 2022. Archstone Entertainment is representing the worldwide rights to the film. The North American deal marks one of the first to be announced at this week’s Pre-Cannes Screenings, a virtual market that kicked off Monday. Also starring Penelope Mitchell (“Hellboy”), Tanner Buchanan (“Cobra Kai”), Elaine Tan (“Tully”), and Alphonso McAuley (“Walk of Shame”), “The Hyperions” was written and directed by Jon McDonald (“Muddy Corman”). It is produced by McDonald out of his label American Millimetre, as well as Justin Bell Productions’ Justin Bell Jon Michael Kondrath at ReKon Productions. In “The Hyperions,” Elwes plays Professor Ruckus Mandelabaum who by 1960 has come up with a device, the Titan Badge, which gives human beings one particular superpower. Taking in three down-on-their-luck youths, Mandelbaum forges an unusual family of superheroes which attains fame and prestige. But over time the family fractures, Mandelbaum replacing it with a new cadre of teen heroes. By 1979, however, two of the original superheroes plan to do what it takes to get their Badges back. ReKon Productions’ Lisha Yakub, and Archstone’s Jack Sheehan, Scott Martin, and Michael Slifkin serve as executive producers. The Saban Films acquisition was negotiated by Steve Break on behalf of Saban Films and Archstone’s Sheehan on behalf of the filmmakers. Archstone and Saban Films previously collaborated on Darren Lynn Bousman’s 2020 horror film “Death of Me,” starring Maggie Q and Luke Hemsworth, Saban acquiring North America while Archstone represented worldwide distribution rights. An affiliate of Saban Capital Group founded in 2014 by Haim Saban, SCG chairman and CEO, Saban Films has expanded its film industry presence by entering production and recently moving into the U.K. market, partnering with Altitude Media Group. The company’s hits have run the gamut of theatrical movies such as “The Homesman,” starring Hilary Swank; August’s digital hit “The Silencing,” a thriller with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau; and Fathom Events’ such as “3 From Hell,” from Rob Zombie, and Kevin Smith’s “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.” Recent theatrical hits take in horror reboot “Wrong Turn,” produced by Constantin and starring Charlotte Vega and Matthew Modine, which opened in U.S. theaters in Jan. 26, grossing $1.25 million despite COVID-19. Saban Films has continued to release films theatrically during the pandemic, bigger bows including Ian Nelms and Eshom Nelms’ “Fatman” with Mel Gibson in October 2020, and Brad Furman’s “ City of Lies ,” starring Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker, which opened in March 2021.