WELL GO USA WILL RELEASE THE FILM THEATRICALLY ON 300 SCREENS NATIONWIDE ON JULY 17, 2020
DALLAS, TX - June 24, 2020 - Texas-based distributor Well Go USA and Patriot Pictures announced today that they have set a July 17, 2020 theatrical release date for RZA’s anticipated crime thriller Cut Throat City. Originally slated to make its world premiere as an official selection at SXSW 2020, the feature will be one of the first films to open wide theatrically as theaters begin to reopen nationwide. Well Go USA plans to release the film on 300 screens across the U.S. Directed by RZA and written by P.G. Cuschieri, Cut Throat City stars Demetrius Shipp Jr., Denzel Whitaker, Isaiah Washington, Kat Graham, Keean Johnson, Shameik Moore, and Tip T.I. Harris, with Eiza González, Ethan Hawke, Terrence Howard, and Wesley Snipes.
Cut Throat City is the story of four boyhood friends in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to find their homes decimated, with no jobs and no help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Out of options, they reluctantly turn to a local gangster, who offers them one shot at turning their situations around - by pulling off a dangerous heist in the heart of the city. When the job goes bad, the friends find themselves on the run, hunted by two relentless detectives and a neighborhood warlord who thinks they stole the heist money.
“What happens in the black community when men are dreaming of getting out, whether they’re using their music, their artistic expression, or academics, and yet, based on the system and based on natural disasters, those dreams and those aspirations turn into desperation? Well this takes place in Cut Throat City. I’m proud to see this film come to fruition and to tell a story about black men living in a poor community trying to figure it out,” said RZA.
“Coming up on the 15th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, it’s more important than ever to amplify and celebrate black voices. We are proud to be working with RZA on this powerful film,” said Doris Pfardrescher, CEO of Well Go USA.
“RZA’s Zen and martial arts of the mind philosophy is inspiring. This story has attracted a cast that will show our audiences the aftermath of Katrina and its effects on the community of the lower ninth in New Orleans. We are proud to share the voices of the community and bring light to the problems they are still dealing with, even 15 years later,” said Michael Mendelsohn of Patriot Pictures.
Well Go USA and Patriot Pictures will be donating a portion of the film’s proceeds to lowernine.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the long-term recovery of New Orleans’ historic Lower Ninth Ward.
Cut Throat City is produced by Michael Mendelsohn, Sean Lydiard, Elliott Michael Smith, Will Clevinger and Kyle Tekiela. The film is financed by Michael Mendelsohn’s Union Patriot Capital Management II, and produced by Patriot Pictures and Rumble Riot. XYZ Films serves as executive producers and worldwide sales.
ABOUT WELL GO USA
Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment distribution label specialized in bringing the best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA Entertainment's titles can be seen across a variety of platforms, including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television.
ABOUT PATRIOT PICTURES AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES
Patriot Pictures, LLC. packages film and finances. Currently set to start production is CUS AND MIKE directed by Nick Cassavetes and starring Academy Award winner Sir Anthony Hopkins. Theatrically releasing in July 2020 is CUT THROAT CITY directed by RZA and starring Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, T.I., Ethan Hawke, and Eiza Gonzalez. Currently in post-production: SYNCHRONIC directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead starring Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie; PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND directed by Japanese cult director Sion Sono starring Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Nick Cassavetes, and Bill Mosely. Recent releases include: RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL starring Nicolas Cage & Laurence Fishburne; ZEROVILLE starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, Megan Fox, Joey King, and Jacki Weaver. Prior releases include: HANGMAN starring Al Pacino and I AM WRATH starring John Travolta. Patriot Pictures aims at entertainment that inspires social awareness spotlighting good vs evil in society throughout history and engaging audiences to participate in positive social change. Background: Mendelsohn has also arranged financing for such films as LORD OF WAR, written and directed by Andrew Niccol, starring Nicolas Cage and Ethan Hawke; Beacon Pictures’ and Wolfgang Peterson’s AIR FORCE ONE, Lakeshore Entertainment produced THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, UNDERWORLD, the Wachowski Brothers’ THE MATRIX, Icon Pictures produced WHAT WOMEN WANT and Quentin Tarantino’s RESERVOIR DOGS.
ABOUT UNION PATRIOT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
Union Patriot Capital Management, LLC. is a strategic advisor and fund manager [$500 Million], founded by Michael Mendelsohn, President and CEO, through a finance facility provided by billionaire private equity financier. UPCM is uniquely positioned to finance film production, develop film packages, structure talent and distribution deals, and negotiate transactions. UPCM funds films and arranges distribution through major studios, independent distribution, film rebates and state incentives, and foreign sales. UPCM’s Michael Mendelsohn and team currently manages a senior “stretch” financing facility and principal capital investment fund totaling up to $500 million specializing in project production finance and film IP acquisition in the entertainment industry. Mr. Mendelsohn has been the prior Head of Media and Entertainment Finance and Advisor for BNP Paribas, Bank of Tokyo/Union Bank of California and arranged production financing for/or produced over $2.1 billion in production financing and $5.8 billion in box office revenue for over 423 independent and major studio films.