RLJE Films and Urban Movie Channel (UMC) have acquired the North American rights to Bella Thorne’s thriller “Ride,” both distribution companies announced Tuesday.
The film also stars Jessie T. Usher and Will Brill, and marks the feature film debut of writer/director Jeremy Ungar. “Ride” will hit theaters, VOD and Digital HD this Fall.
“With its talented young cast and thrilling plotline, we know audiences are going to be drawn to ‘Ride,’” said chief acquisitions officer Mark Ward for RLJE Films. “The story is incredibly relevant to today’s culture.”
“Ride” follows a rideshare driver named James (Usher) and his passenger Jessica (Thorne), who pick up Bruno (Brill), which turns into a night out in Los Angeles of war for survival.
“In ‘Ride,’ Jeremy created a quintessential millennial thriller wrought with tension and fueled by our darkest fears related to the cultural phenomenon of ride-sharing,” said producer Keith Kjarval. “We could not be any more pleased to join forces with RLJE, who continue to have their fingers on the pulse of genre fans everywhere.”
Kjarval produced alongside Tyler Jackson and Sefton Fincham. “Ride” was financed by the Fyzz Facility along with Unified Film Fund II. Robert Jones and Wayne Marc Godfrey executive produced with David Grace, Mike Rowe, Levi Sheck and Dean Buchanan.
Ward and Jess De Leo from RLJE negotiated the deal with Endeavor Content on behalf of the filmmakers.