Screen Media picks up The Locksmith starring Ryan Phillippe, Kate Bosworth and Ving Rhames

Photo credit: Cathy Kanavy

Screen Media has announced the acquisition of all North American rights to the action thriller The Locksmith from Arclight Films. Directed by Nicolas Harvard and starring Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Cruel Intentions), Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns, 21), Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction, Mission: Impossible). The screenplay is written by John Glosser, Joe Russo and Chris LaMont, and Ben Kabialis, based on an original story by Blair Kroeber. Screen Media is planning a day-and-date, theatrical and on demand release later this year.

Miller (Ryan Phillippe), an ex-con recently released from prison for a bungled robbery, tries to walk a straight line and work his way back into the lives of his ex, Beth (Kate Bosworth), a police detective, and their young daughter. While Miller is doing his best to stay on the straight and narrow with the help of an old friend (Ving Rhames), he finds his past will not stay in the past, and he is forced to commit one last crime before he can truly walk away. Things once again go badly, and now not only his freedom, but also his daughter’s life, hang in the balance.

“It’s a real honor to have Screen Media get behind this film as a theatrical release,” said director Nicolas Harvard. “Having them as partners from the get-go gave us the confidence to compose our shots and scenes for a big screen audience. It’s exciting to know that people are going back to the multiplexes in droves. This film will not disappoint.”

“Director Nicolas Harvard has crafted a clever crime thriller that delivers what audiences want from a heist film and then goes above and beyond expectations,” said Screen Media in a statement. “Ryan Phillippe, Ving Rhames, and Kate Bosworth lead the film to surprising new heights, and we’re certain viewers will be locked in from the very beginning.”

“We are thrilled to have the top-notch team at Screen Media come on board to distribute The Locksmith. They are the perfect partner to introduce this fantastic thriller to audiences in the U.S.,” added Arclight Films chairman Gary Hamilton.

The film is produced by Mark David and Roger Goff, coproduced by Brandon David and Gordon Rausser and executive produced by Daniel Cummings, Walter Josten, Chris LaMont, Joe Russo & Caleb Wilson

The deal was negotiated by Seth Needle, executive vice president of Global Acquisitions and Co-Productions, on behalf of Screen Media with Lina Marrone, executive vice president of International Sales at Arclight Films, who is handling worldwide distribution rights to The Locksmith.

Screen Media just acquired the action film Code Name Banshee starring Antonio Banderas, Jaime King and Tommy Flanagan. Recent releases include the the psychological horror film Monstrous starring Christina Ricci and psychological thriller Cordelia starring Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Johnny Flynn. Additional recent acquisitions include The Good Neighbor starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Immaculate Room starring Emile Hirsch and Kate Bosworth and Kevin Lewis’ follow up to Willy’s Wonderland, The Accursed starring Mena Suvari. Screen Media is also currently in production on Philip Noyce’s Fast Charlie starring Pierce Brosnan.