WILLIAM BUTLER TALKS MADHOUSE RELEASE
Writer/director William Butlers MADHOUSE will be in theaters this October, but unfortunately, you will have to go to Europe to see it on the big screen. Lions Gate execs informed Butler last Thursday that his directorial debut will premiere in theaters overseas, and on television and video here in America. The movie stars Joshua Leonard, Jordan Ladd, Lance Henriksen and Natasha Lyonne in a story of a haunted asylum. Needless to say, former actor Butler is not thrilled about the development.
Since they purchased Artisan, Lions Gate is obligated to release the acquired roster of bigger-budget films first, projects like THE PUNISHER, Butler tells Fango. As a result, their smaller acquisitions such as MADHOUSE got pushed to the back of the line when it came to a theatrical release. When they said they were trying to figure out which slot to put the film in, I would never have dreamed it was the slot in the door at Blockbuster! Seriously, as a hardcore fan of the genre, I am disappointed, because the film has gotten such great response from early screenings, but as a director, Im not surprised by any unexpected news. Stuff like this happens all the time. I am just so happy that the film was picked up by Lions Gate to begin with. They are an awesome group, and I have always wanted to work with them.
Butler and his writing partner Aaron Strongoni are currently polishing RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 4 & 5, and he is in preproduction on CIRCLE OF SIX, the next feature film he will be directing in Romania. And finally, in late summer, Butler will write and direct an independent comedy called ISNT THERE A LIMIT? Lions Gate, meanwhile, has an exciting roster of theatrical fright flicks waiting in the wings, including OPEN WATER, the NC-17 HIGH TENSION (a.k.a. HAUTE TENSION), the two Japanese JU-ON films and SAW. Besides MADHOUSE, upcoming video titles include GINGER SNAPS BACK, BLOODY MALLORY, DEATHWATCH, MONSTER MAN and many more.
Courtesy of Fangoria
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