Screen Media levels up with forgotten Roger Corman Sundance film Virtually Heroes

Screen Media has announced the acquisition of North American distribution rights to the Roger Corman produced action comedy Virtually Heroes. Screen Media is planning a limited theatrical and digital release for the film this December and has partnered with corporate sibling Popcornflix, a Crackle Plus platform, to premiere the movie to streaming audiences in February 2023.

An Official Selection of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, the film is directed and produced by GJ Echternkamp (Frank and Cindy, The Car: Road to Revenge) and stars Robert Baker (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Out of Time), Brent Chase (Shameless, I Am the Night), Katie Savoy (How I Met Your Mother, NCIS: New Orleans) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Slipstream, Batman: The Animated Adventures). The film is executive produced by Roger Corman (Frankenstein Unbound, The Wild Angels)

Two self-aware characters in a Call of Duty-inspired video game battle endless enemies and their own existential crises. With the help of Mark Hamill’s Yoda-like monk, they attempt to win the game and get the girl.

“We’re thrilled to bring this lost Corman project to our audiences,” said Screen Media in a statement. “The film is a perfect blend of action and campy, tongue-in-cheek comedy, and will be sure to delight viewers – whether this is their first foray into the world of Roger Corman or fiftieth.”

“Virtually Heroes was an ambitious project in many ways, and not exactly what you would call a conventional film,” said GJ Echternkamp. “I’m so glad that Screen Media is at last bringing this cult movie out of the shadows and onto their platform to be discovered by a new audience.”

The deal was negotiated by Brendan Murray, senior manager of digital acquisitions, on behalf of Screen Media with New Horizons Picture Corporation.

Screen Media recently acquired Renny Harlin’s action film The Bricklayer starring Aaron Eckhart and Nina Dobrev from Millennium Films, as well as The Locksmith starring Ryan Phillippe, Kate Bosworth, and Ving Rhames. Additional recent acquisitions include worldwide rights to the Bella Thorne-led thriller Saint Clare also starring Ryan Phillippe and Rebecca DeMornay, Kevin Lewis’ follow-up to Willy’s Wonderland, The Accursed starring Alexis Knapp and Mena Suvari, The Enforcer starring Antonio Banderas and Kate Bosworth as well as The Immaculate Room starring Emile Hirsch and Kate Bosworth and Ashley Greene Khoury. Recent film releases include The Nan Movie starring Catherine Tate, Code Name Banshee starring Antonio Banderas, Jaime King and Tommy Flanagan, The Good Neighbor starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the psychological horror film Monstrous starring Christina Ricci.