Coming off a successful debut at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, A24 Films has snapped up U.S. distribution rights to Mojave, new thriller starring Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina) and Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy). Written and directed by William Monahan, the title was the one of more buzzed about narrative films to emerge from the NY-based film festival.
The film stars Hedlund as a suicidal artist who heads to the Mojave Desert to escape where he encounters a drifter (Isaac) who serves as his violent double. The two eventually butt heads in a brutal showdown with the extraordinary vistas of the desert in the background. The film also stars Mark Wahlberg (The Departed), Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods), Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight) and Dania Ramirez (Premium Rush). Mojave marks Monahan’s second term as a director following the little-seen 2010 crime drama London Boulevard, which starred Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley. Monahan won an Academy Award for penning the screenplay for Martin Scorsese’s Best Picture-winning thriller The Departed.
With Mojave, A24 Films has now backed three titles starring the up-and-coming Isaac following last years’ critically acclaimed A Most Violent Year, and Ex Machina, Alex Garland’s sci/fi morality play currently doing bang up box office on the specialty side. While there isn’t yet word on when Mojave will hit screens, Isaac’s name will continue to grow, surely, thanks to his involvement in the J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The actor began to make waves on the independent side as the star of Inside Llewyn Davis for directors Joel and Ethan Coen.
Hedlund had a small part in that as well, and has also been a star on the rise for a few years now, with well received performances in films as diverse as On the Road (2012) and last years’ Unbroken. Hedlund will next be seen in the franchise hopeful Pan, a new take on Peter Pan from director Joe Wright (Atonement) where the actor will play a young Captain Hook alongside Hugh Jackman and Rooney Mara. Following that, Hedlund is set to appear in Ang Lee’s wartime drama Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk alongside Vin Diesel and Kristen Stewart.
Mojave made its world premiere on April 18, 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival.
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