Russell Crowe & Ethan Hawke’s New Thriller Sets Theatrical Release Date

The upcoming thriller featuring Oscar winner Russell Crowe and five-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke is heading to theaters this fall. Vertical has acquired North American rights to The Weight following its successful festival run.

The Weight gets a release date

The distributor has set The Weight’s wide theatrical release date for September 18, bringing the Depression-era adventure film to audiences across the continent, Deadline reported. After premiering at Sundance, The Weight got a 94% fresh score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It later screened at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The plot follows Samuel (Hawke), a man separated from his daughter and sent to a harsh prison. Warden Clancy (Russell Crowe) offers him a dangerous way out. He asks him to smuggle gold from a remote mine alongside other prisoners in exchange for freedom. As the group travels through the wilderness, threats linger from within their own ranks rather than the environment. The film is Padraic McKinley’s first feature as director.

Director McKinley said the festival response built momentum for the project. “Seeing the film connect with and energize audiences at Sundance and Berlinale has been incredibly rewarding, and has only amplified my excitement to partner up with Vertical to bring this kind of big-screen, throwback experience to theaters in September.”

Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey praised the lead performances, calling the film “anchored by powerhouse performances from Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe.” He described it as “a smart, character-driven thriller that captures the tension and sophistication of the great 1970s classics while feeling sharp and contemporary for today’s audiences.” The screenplay comes from Matthew Chapman, Shelby Gaines, and Matthew Booi, based on a story by Booi and Leo Scherman.

For Russell Crowe, the project adds to a busy recent schedule that includes Nuremberg, Kraven the Hunter, and The Exorcism. Hawke recently got a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Blue Moon. Further, he stars in Black Phone 2 and the FX series The Lowdown.

With critics already on board and a September release date locked in, The Weight is one of the fall season’s most anticipated thrillers.

Source: Comingsoon.net