Another acquisition deal has been confirmed coming out of the continuing Toronto Film Festival. Ana Lily Amirpour’s dystopian love story The Bad Batch has sold to Screen Media Films. The film, which stars Sukie Waterhouse (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) and soon-to-be Aquaman Jason Momoa, made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and is nearing its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Previously, Netflix secured exclusive streaming rights to the title. Amirpour made a major splash with her debut feature A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.
Amirpour’s latest is another ambitious genre mash-up set in a Texan wasteland revolving around a love story that blooms within a community of cannibals. The ensemble cast includes Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, Diego Luna, Giovanni Ribisi and Yolanda Ross. While reviews out of Venice were mixed – Guy Lodge wrote in Variety: “Though there’s much to savor in the pic’s lavishly distressed visuals and soundscape, its narrative feels increasingly stretched and desultory” – the film still took home a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Screen Media Films appears committed to an early 2017 theatrical run for The Bad Batch though no specific release date has yet to be set. Annapurna Pictures and Vice produced the title. The Bad Batch will next play at Fantastic Fest