Magnet takes worldwide rights to Coscarelli's John Dies At The End

Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho-Tep, the Phantasm series) writes, directs and produces the new sci-fi horror film. The cast features Paul Giamatti, Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman and Doug Jones.

The other producers are M3 Creative’s Brad Baruh, Andy Meyers and Roman Perez.

The story, adapted from David Wong’s book, is about a new street drug that lets users drift across time and dimensions, but they don’t always return as humans.

Executive producers are Giamatti and Daniel Carey.

The film premeired as a work in progress at Sundance before going to SXSW. It will soon play as the closing film of Toronto’s Midnight Madness programme.

Magnet will release the film this year through its Ultra VOD programme, debuting it on all VOD platforms in late December, with a theatrical release to follow in early 2013.

“We are longtime fans of the great Don Coscarelli, and fell in love with this film when it debuted at Sundance,” said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles. “It’s a real head trip — imaginative, wildly funny, and incredibly demented, with all the makings of an underground classic that fans will come back to again and again.”

Coscarelli added, “It is my great pleasure to be allied with the finest and most entrepreneurial independent film distributor in the terrific team at Magnolia Pictures. They share my passion for the story of Dave and John…Obviously the “Soy Sauce” that kicks the plot into gear has had the same addictive effect on them as it did me. Watch out!”

The deal was negotiated by Magnet/Magnolia Director of Acquisitions Peter Van Steemburg with the filmmakers.