That was fast. “The Bikeriders,” Jeff Nichols’ motorcycle gang drama starring Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, and Austin Butler, has sold to Focus Features after it was revealed on November 21 the film was shopping for a new home.
New Regency produced and financed the film that was meant to be released this year via its deal with 20th Century Studios, but Focus will now release it in North America theatrically in 2024, IndieWire has confirmed. Universal Pictures International has the remainder of the globe.
“We are delighted to add such a riveting project to next year’s strong slate of films. We look forward to once again working alongside New Regency and reuniting with the multi-talented Jeff Nichols on another one of his visionary projects,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said in a statement. This film exemplifies our commitment to collaborate with the industry’s best filmmakers and production partners, and we can’t wait to build upon its early success to draw audiences into this poignant film bolstered by powerful performances from an incredible cast.”
“We are excited to team up again with our Focus Features partners and look forward to another successful collaboration. And we couldn’t be prouder of ‘The Bikeriders,’ Jeff Nichols and all the talent he has brought together to create this truly exceptional film,” Yariv Milchan, Chairman and CEO of New Regency, said.
“The Bikeriders” was meant to be released on December 1, and it even premiered at Telluride earlier this year to solid reviews as a potential Oscar contender. Between “The Holdovers” and “Asteroid City,” Focus is flush with Oscar-vying titles this year, effectively taking this one out of the awards conversation. For this year at least. Focus Features also released Nichols’ Oscar-nominated “Loving” in 2016.
But New Regency, which also is carrying the full financial load for “The Bikeriders,” is hoping a new release date and more strategic, targeted theatrical rollout might serve it better. 20th Century earlier this year under its deal with New Regency released “The Creator,” which made only $103.9 million worldwide on a budget of $80 million.
“The Bikeriders” follows the rise of a midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Seen through the lives of its members, the club evolves over the course of a decade from a gathering place for local outsiders into a more sinister gang, threatening the original group’s unique way of life. Nichols wrote and directed the period crime epic. Sarah Green and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones are producing through Tri-State, the company they share with Nichols, alongside New Regency. Fred Berger is executive producing.
No release date for “The Bikeriders” yet, but upcoming for Focus in 2024 are Ethan Coen and co-writer Tricia Cooke’s “Drive-Away Dolls,” “Lisa Frankenstein” as written by Diablo Cody and directed by Zelda Williams, Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black,” Goran Stolevski’s “Housekeeping for Beginners,” and “Nosferatu” from Robert Eggers. New Regency also has a series based on “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” starring Donald Glover and due for release on Amazon Prime Video February 2.
