RLJE Films has acquired the U.S. rights to “Color Out of Space,” a horror and sci-fi film starring Nicolas Cage and based on the 1927 novella “The Colour Out of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft, the company announced Friday.
The film was acquired in a low to mid-seven figure deal ahead of its world premiere in the Midnight Madness section of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, where it will screen on Sept. 7 at the Ryerson Theater.
“Color Out of Space” reunites Cage with Elijah Wood’s Spectrevision, the producing team behind his recent indie cult hit “Mandy.” After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farmstead, Nathan Gardner (Cage) and his family find themselves battling a mutant extraterrestrial organism as it infects their minds and bodies, transforming their quiet rural life into a technicolor nightmare.
Cage stars in the film alongside Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Brendan Meyer, Julian Hilliard, Elliot Knight, Q’orianka Kilcher and Tommy Chong. Richard Stanley (“Hardware,” “Dust Devil”) directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Scarlett Amaris, and the film is both his first project in over 20 years and his return to TIFF’s Midnight Madness lineup in 29 years.
“We’re beyond excited to be reteaming with SpectreVision and XYZ Films for ‘Color Out of Space,” Mark Ward, chief acquisitions officer for RLJE Films said in a statement. “Nicolas Cage unleashes another memorable performance – an incredible follow up off the heels of ‘Mandy.’”
“Color Out of Space” was financed by Ace Pictures and produced by SpectreVision. The producers include Daniel Noah, Lisa Whalen, Elijah Wood and Josh C. Waller, while the executive producers are Johnny Chang, Peter Wong, Timur Bekbosunov, Emma Lee, Stacy Jorgensen, Elisa Lleras and Michael M. McGuire. XYZ Films is handling international sales on the film.
The deal was negotiated by Mark Ward and Jess DeLeo from RLJE Films and Nate Bolotin from XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers.