Warden – Watch the trailer for the documentary style Superhero movie

Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has announced the acquisition of North American rights to the docu-style sci-fi superhero feature, Warden, which will be available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting on 14th March 2025.

First introduced at Comic-Con Experience in São Paulo—the largest Comic-Con in the Americas—WARDEN generated strong early buzz and marks the feature film debut of Marcus Alqueres. No stranger to the superhero genre, Alqueres gained viral success with his short film THE FLYING MAN, which amassed over 25 million views, attracted major industry players, studios, and garnered widespread media coverage. WARDEN was produced on a shoestring budget, following the same independent approach–cost-effective production, bold storytelling, and uncompromised creative vision–that brought his short films critical and audience acclaim.

The Flying Man short film was great and the documentary/found footage worked extremely well in 2012’s Chronicle.

WARDEN explores the real-world impact of an ordinary kid who discovers he has superpowers and decides he can save his ailing city and further impact the lives of those forever changed by the rise of the world’s first superhero. Unlike traditional superhero tales, WARDEN focuses on the effect of a superhero’s presence on ordinary people as it portrays the diverse reactions of those who love him, those who sell their souls for him, those who fight against him, and those who seek the truth amidst the chaos. Presented in a faux documentary style, WARDEN connects the rise of superhero stories with their fantasies of solitary, righteous figures working outside the system to bring justice. It also examines how such characters might influence society.

WARDEN was developed by Lucasfilm veteran Steve Tzirlin and Jeff Juhasz—who also serves as executive producer and writer, respectively, on the newly released Amazon series SECRET LEVEL (2025)—and directed by Marcus Alqueres. WARDEN was produced by Steve Tzirlin, Marcus Alqueres, Jeff Juhasz, and Sarah Kinga Smith. The featured cast includes Giovanni de Lorenzi (‘Warden’), Alli Willow (‘Katarina Legero’), Antonio Saboia (‘Romeu Filho’), Kukassa Kabengele (‘Davi Lopes’), James Turpin (‘Andy Baltz’), and Nathalia Florentino (‘Alana Sati’).

“What drew me to WARDEN was its reflection of society’s deep fascination with heroes—how we elevate them, place our faith in their power to save us, and the hidden dangers that come with it,” said filmmaker Marcus Alqueres. “I love exploring ‘what if’ scenarios and reimagining familiar genres in unexpected ways, and WARDEN gave me the opportunity to do both.”

“The vision of director Marcus Alqueres as a filmmaker is visceral and provocative, with a fresh take on modern society’s search for the hero it needs through a performance-driven lens,” said producer Sarah Kinga Smith. “In a real-world-inspired narrative, Marcus’ storytelling redefines heroism and deconstructs traditional notions of what it means to be a hero, challenging audiences to question the difference between the heroes we seek, the ones we create, and the ones we truly need.”

Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire WARDEN directly with the filmmakers and Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films.