Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has secured the North American rights to “Night Call,” a French thriller marking the feature directorial debut of Michiel Blanchart. Blanchart previously gained recognition for his live-action short “You’re Dead Hélène,” which was shortlisted for the 94th Oscars.
Scheduled for release later this year, “Night Call” centers on a young locksmith who finds himself in a dangerous predicament after responding to an emergency call. The story follows Mady, played by Jonathan Feltre, a student by day and locksmith by night, who receives an urgent request from a woman named Claire. She asks him to unlock a door, but the situation quickly escalates when it’s revealed that the door and the bag of cash she takes do not belong to her. The stolen money belongs to Yannick, portrayed by Romain Duris, a menacing crime boss who relentlessly pursues Mady to recover his goods. Amidst citywide protests, Mady has one night to prove his innocence and escape the deadly chase through Brussels’ dark underbelly.
The film also features Jonas Bloquet, known for his role in “The Nun,” and is produced by Boucan and Quad, with Michael Goldberg, Boris Van Gils, Margaux Marciano, and Nicolas Duval Adassovsky serving as producers. “Night Call” will debut in France on August 28.
Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley praised Blanchart’s work, stating, “In a short period, Michiel Blanchart has demonstrated a unique vision across horror, romance, comedy, fantasy, and now a whip-smart feature thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.” Blanchart expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “I am so excited and honored to be working with the distributor who released many of my favorite films, among them ‘The Host,’ ‘I Saw the Devil,’ ‘Mother,’ and ‘The Guilty.’ I grew up watching American movies, so it is a dream come true to have my film screening in cinemas in the U.S.”
The acquisition deal was negotiated by Magnolia Pictures SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden and Gaumont EVP International Sales and Distribution Alexis Cassanet on behalf of the filmmakers.
