21 SHARES Facebook Twitter

The indie distribution game is always in a state of flux. Former titans The Weinstein Company now seem to be barely getting by these days, and the era of streaming hasn’t stopped new companies from coming along. Just this week, it was announced that former RADiUS honcho Tom Quinn and Alamo Drafthouse’s Tim League were teaming up to form Neon (Anne Hathaway‘s monster movie “Colossal” will be their first release). And now Megan Ellison is getting into the business.

Annapurna Pictures has announced they’ve launched a full-blown distribution and marketing arm, and the first movie to be released will be Kathryn Bigelow‘s untitled Detroit riots movie, arriving on August 4, 2017. Featuring a massive ensemble including John Boyega, Chris Chalk, Nathan Davis Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Austin Hébert, Joseph David-Jones, Malcolm David Kelley, John Krasinski, Jacob Latimore, Anthony Mackie, Jason Mitchell, Hannah Murray, Ben O’Toole, Will Poulter, Jack Reynor, Algee Smith, Peyton Alex Smith, Jeremy Strong, Ephraim Sykes, and Leon Thomas III, the crime drama is set against the backdrop of Detroit’s 1967 riots.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2017

The release date is interesting because it’s not near the major festivals (a Cannes bow is possible, I suppose, but considering it shot late last summer, timing might be tight) and it’s outside the traditional Oscar corridor. But the release date does land on the 50th anniversary of the riots. And it will face little competition at the box office with the only pictures scheduled that weekend being Blake Lively‘s “All I See Is You” and “The Emoji Movie.”

Another big move by Annapurna, and this will certainly shift the marketplace in exciting ways in the year ahead. Full press release below.

Los Angeles, CA (January 20, 2017) – Annapurna Pictures is launching its long planned, full-service distribution and marketing operation with Kathryn Bigelow’s UNTITLED DETROIT PROJECT, it was announced today. Marc Weinstock, who recently joined the company as President, will oversee the new division alongside President of Marketing, David Kaminow; President of Distribution, Erik Lomis; and their respective teams. Annapurna has been targeting Kathryn Bigelow’s UNTITLED DETROIT PROJECT, a film they also produced, to launch the division.

“Kathryn’s UNTITLED DETROIT PROJECT is exemplary of the type of films we will be distributing. I couldn’t be more confident in the team we are establishing to distribute and market the film in a way that is as creative and masterful as her film is,” said Weinstock.

The UNTITLED DETROIT PROJECT, directed by Bigelow is a crime drama set against the backdrop of Detroit’s 1967 riots. Bigelow is producing the film with Annapurna’s Megan Ellison and Matthew Budman. Mark Boal, who penned the script, and Colin Wilson are also producers with Greg Shapiro executive producing. The release date will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the riots.

The film stars an ensemble cast comprised of John Boyega, Chris Chalk, Nathan Davis Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Austin Hébert, Joseph David-Jones, Malcolm David Kelley, John Krasinski, Jacob Latimore, Anthony Mackie, Jason Mitchell, Hannah Murray, Ben O’Toole, Will Poulter, Jack Reynor, Algee Smith, Peyton Alex Smith, Jeremy Strong, Ephraim Sykes, and Leon Thomas III.

“Kathryn took a chance on me 6 years ago and I’m honored that she has put her faith in me and my team once again. I could not be more excited to be launching this new part of our company with such a groundbreaking filmmaker, tremendous collaborator, and dear friend,” said Ellison.

This film is the second feature collaboration between Annapurna and Kathryn Bigelow, who previously worked together, alongside Boal, on the Academy Award® winning film, ZERO DARK THIRTY.

Notes Bigelow, “Megan has been such a huge supporter of filmmakers as a producer and the fact that she is now offering a full-fledged distribution and marketing home run by such innovative and creative executives is great news to all of us. I am thrilled to be working with them.”