Thomas Antony Olajide: Last News

Wilson Chapman editorARRAY Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY, has acquired the distribution rights for indie drama “Learn to Swim” and has set a release date for Aug. 15 in select theaters and on Netflix.“Learn to Swim” marks the feature directorial debut of Thyrone Tommy, who co-wrote the screenplay with Marni Van Dyk.

D.W. Waterson’s cheer drama Backspot, also produced by Elliot Page under Page Boy Productions, aims to tell a more well-rounded and ambitious story about the seemingly glamorous but occupationally hazardous world of competitive cheerleading. The film follows Riley (Devery Jacobs), an ambitious cheerleader hell-bent on perfection, as she, alongside her girlfriend (Kudakwashe Rutendo) and their best friend (Noa DiBertro), land highly competitive spots on a prestigious all-star cheerleading squad led by an overbearing head coach (Evan Rachel Wood) and her presiding assistant coach Thomas Antony Olajide). The film acts as a multi-hyphenate social commentary on queerness, mental health and coming-of-age tale for young women in sports. 

There will be no second season for The Spencer Sisters. CTV has opted not to pick up a second season of the Canadian drama series starring Lea Thompson and Stacey Farber.

EXCLUSIVE: XYZ Films has acquired U.S. and Australia/NZ rights to distribute the TIFF sports drama Backspot, directed by first-time feature filmmaker D.W. Waterson and starring Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs) and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld). 

The CW has been busy north of the border.

Amber Dowling Principal photography has kicked off on “Backspot,” the upcoming queer cheerleading film starring Devery Jacobs (“Reservation Dogs”) and newcomer Kudakwashe Rutendo as the leads. It will mark helmer D.W. Waterson (“That’s My DJ”) directorial feature debut. The film is expected to shoot until mid-March in the Toronto area. The film hails from Elliot Page’s Page Boy Productions, Night is Y and Prospero Pictures, and was written by Joanne Sarazen, based on a story by Waterson. Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, John Davidson, and Katisha Shaw executive produce; Alona Metzer, Waterson, Jacobs and Martin Katz board as producers. “Backspot” revolves around two young cheerleaders, Riley (Jacobs) and Amanda (Rutendo). Both are impressive members of their mid-level cheerleading squad until a professional coach gives them a chance to level up with The Thunderhawks. There, they must learn to “negotiate their space, find their voices, and come to an understanding with the generation of women who came before them,” according to the film’s logline.

Array Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s Peabody Award-winning narrative change collective, has picked up rights to the feature drama Learn to Swim for the U.S., the UK, Australia and New Zealand, slating it for release on select screens and on Netflix on August 15.

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