EXCLUSIVE: Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee’s Thunder Road (John Wick) is teaming up with longtime Screen Gems exec Scott Strauss to bring Badlands to market.
Backed by Andrew Schwartzberg and Jon Shiffman’s Renegade Capital, the independent genre label will have development and co-fi funding and plans to produce two to three films per year.
The first step for the new company will be Arachnid, with Matilda Lutz. Written by Jayson Rothwell (Underworld: Blood Wars) and directed by Ángel Gómez (You) filming on the spider thriller is scheduled to begin in Madrid in July. Altitude Film Sales will introduce the film to buyers at Cannes next week, with CAA Media Finance handling domestic rights.
Rothwell, Schwartzberg, Shiffman, Peter Welter, Alexandra Milchan and Josh Weinstock are part of the Arachnid producing team.
Lutz is best known for genre projects including Revenge, reptile and the upcoming films magpie And Red Sonja, in which she plays the title role. Gómez is best known for the popular Netflix horror You.
Strauss left his post as executive vice president of Screen Gems in December. For two decades, he led the development, packaging, worldwide production and post-production of more than 40 films for Sony’s genre division, including: resident Evil And Underworld Franchises and films like Simply A, The vow, Prom Night and The Pope’s Exorcist. Before Sony, Strauss was vice president of Kopelson Entertainment and president of Outlaw Productions.
Recent Thunder Road projects include: Monkey man, John Wick: Chapter 4 And John Wick Prequel spinoff series The Continental. Coming soon ballerina And Greenland: Migration.
“I’m fortunate to do business with Thunder Road and Renegade,” Strauss said. “Badlands will be an extension of both companies’ entrepreneurial spirit and is moving quickly to acquire and produce a new slate of horror IP.”
“Thunder Road wanted to expand into horror and we are thrilled to be working with someone as smart, creative and hard-working as Scott,” said Thunder Road partner and president of production Erica Lee. “His experience and track record speak for themselves and our team is committed to making Badlands a success.”
Lutz is represented by The Gersh Agency, Ethos Entertainment, Independent Talent and attorney Ryan LeVine. Gomez is represented by CAA and Scott Glassgold at Ground Control. Rothwell is repped by Cliff Roberts at Syndicate Entertainment. Thunder Road and Badlands are represented by CAA Media Finance.