Joseph Cross’ Coming-Of-Age Movie ‘Summer Night’ Acquired By Samuel Goldwyn Films

EXCLUSIVE: Samuel Goldwyn Films has taken domestic rights to Joseph Cross’ feature directorial debut Summer Night for a release next spring. Cross is the star of such films as Lincoln, Milk and the HBO Emmy-winning limited series Big Little Lies.

Summer Night follows a group of young best friends confronted with a series of fast-approaching life decisions during the course of the night that will either leave them stuck in the comfort of adolescence or catapult them into adulthood. Pic stars Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood), Ian Nelson (The Boy Next Door), Analeigh Tipton (Two Night Stand), Callan McAuliffe (The Great Gatsby), Ella Hunt (Anna and the Apocalypse), Hayden Szeto (Truth or Dare), Bill Milner (X-Men: First Class), Lana Condor (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Elena Kampouris (Before I Fall), Khris Davis (Detroit) and Melina Vidler (800 Words), with Victoria Justice (The Outcasts) and Justin Chatwin (TV’s Shameless).

Jordan Jolliff wrote Summer Night. The film is produced by Cross, Tara Ansley, and Audrey Tommassini. Executive producers are James Ponsoldt, Andrew Cross, James Cross, Nicholas DeKay, Jane Nerlinger Evans, Lucas Evans, Constance FitzMaurice, Stephen Fowler, Lauren Gimlett, Brian Gimlett, Nicholas Hertz, Eric Hooge, Erinn Knight, Charlie Mainardi, Todd A. Marks, Ryan Millsap, Wanda Morganstern, Bruna Nogueira and Maureen Toumey.

“We were drawn to the talented young cast as we journey with them through a night of drama, music, romance and hanging with your friends. We’re excited to be able to bring Joseph’s vision to audiences,” says Miles Fineburg of Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Cross says, “We are thrilled to partner with Samuel Goldwyn Films to bring Summer Night to audiences across the country. Their enthusiasm for our movie was unmatched, which convinced us that they were the ideal partner for the release. We are looking forward to our continued relationship with their
team.”

The deal was negotiated by Miles Fineburg of Samuel Goldwyn and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.

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