Magnolia’s Genre Label Magnet Acquires SXSW Midnight Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Things Will Be Different’

EXCLUSIVE: Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has picked up the North American rights to the twisty sci-fi thriller Things Will Be Different which made its world premiere in the Midnight section at SXSW. An Oct. 4 theatrical day-and-date release has been set.

The feature directorial debut of Michael Felker, which he also wrote, follows estranged siblings who, after a robbery, escape to a rural safe house hidden in time and discover they’re not the only occupants. Riley Dandy, Adam David Thompson, Chloe Skoczen, Justin Benson, Jori Lynn Felker, and Sarah Bolger star.

Deadline’s Damon Wise in his review of the pic exclaimed, “Those willing to get swept up and carried along by its playful Moebius-strip logic will be richly rewarded.”

Pic is EP’ed by Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead (Marvel’s Moon Knight and Loki) and David Lawson of Rustic Films (The Endless, Spring) and produced by Shane Spiegel, Jacob Rosenthal and Felker.

“Things Will Be Different is a wild, mind-scrambler of a movie,” said Magnolia Pictures co-CEO’s Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley. “Stars Riley Dandy and Adam David Thompson are incredibly compelling in director Michael Felker’s audaciously conceived puzzle.”

“Even after 20 years of championing independent film, it’s still worth repeating till the end of time: Magnolia Pictures is a genuine pioneer of innovative cinema, and the entire Things Will Be Different team feels honored to be welcomed into the Magnolia and Magnet family,” said Felker.

The movie is an XYZ Films and Rustic Films Present, A Last Life Production and A Felker Film. Cercamon is handling international sales. The deal was negotiated by Magnolia Pictures SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, and XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers.