Hollywood’s Big Bets: American Originals Headline AFM 2025
At this year’s American Film Market in Los Angeles, US sellers are doubling down on genre-driven and star-powered cinema, presenting a slate that underscores both the global appeal and the commercial ambitions of American production. Among the most active players, Voltage Pictures stands out with a dynamic lineup tailored for international buyers as well as the domestic theatrical market.
Voltage introduces “Pitfall”, an intense horror-thriller directed by James Kondelik, fresh off its premiere at Screamfest. The story follows a young man trapped alone in the woods, blending classic slasher tension with an unexpected psychological dimension. The slate continues with the action-comedy “Under Fire,” starring Dylan Sprouse and Mason Gooding and directed by Steven C. Miller. The film centers on two undercover agents whose rivalry and cooperation unfold along the US–Mexico border.
The company diversifies further with the romantic drama “Marked Men”, directed by Nick Cassavetes and featuring Chase Stokes, Sydney Taylor, and Alexander Ludwig. Voltage also ventures into musical territory with “Verona’s Romeo & Juliet,” planned for a Valentine’s Day release. Maintaining a wide commercial scope, the Dennis Quaid biopic “Reagan” remains in circulation, while “The Sicilian”, starring Megan Fox and Iain Glen, reinforces Voltage’s cross-genre, international strategy.
In the comedic arena, “Back in Black” stars Oscar-winner Christopher Walken as a small-town undertaker determined to save his business in a community where no one ever dies. Co-starring Ella Ballentine and Jane Curtin, and premiering at AFM via Embankment Films, the film promises a uniquely American blend of satire and dark humor.
One of the most talked-about American projects of the market is “Phantom Son,” which brings together Renée Zellweger and acclaimed director David Yates for a psychological thriller with strong international appeal. Developed under Zellweger’s Big Picture Co. with Carmella Casinelli, and fully financed and co-produced by AGC Studios, the film follows Audrey, a solitary woman whose son was abducted twenty years earlier. When a runaway girl named Ronnie appears, Audrey becomes convinced the stranger is her missing child, triggering a haunting psychological spiral where the borders between reality, obsession, and illusion collapse.
Written by Ian Scott McCullough (“The Mosquito Coast”) and handled worldwide by AGC and CAA Media Finance, “Phantom Son” is slated for a Q1 2026 production start and was presented to buyers in targeted sessions during this year’s AFM.
Sources: Screendaily, Voltagepictures.
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At this year’s American Film Market in Los Angeles, US sellers are doubling down on genre-driven and star-powered cinema, presenting a slate that underscores both the global appeal and the commercial ambitions of American production. Among the most active players, Voltage Pictures stands out with a dynamic lineup tailored for international buyers as well as the domestic theatrical market.
Voltage introduces “Pitfall”, an intense horror-thriller directed by James Kondelik, fresh off its premiere at Screamfest. The story follows a young man trapped alone in the woods, blending classic slasher tension with an unexpected psychological dimension. The slate continues with the action-comedy “Under Fire,” starring Dylan Sprouse and Mason Gooding and directed by Steven C. Miller. The film centers on two undercover agents whose rivalry and cooperation unfold along the US–Mexico border.
The company diversifies further with the romantic drama “Marked Men”, directed by Nick Cassavetes and featuring Chase Stokes, Sydney Taylor, and Alexander Ludwig. Voltage also ventures into musical territory with “Verona’s Romeo & Juliet,” planned for a Valentine’s Day release. Maintaining a wide commercial scope, the Dennis Quaid biopic “Reagan” remains in circulation, while “The Sicilian”, starring Megan Fox and Iain Glen, reinforces Voltage’s cross-genre, international strategy.
In the comedic arena, “Back in Black” stars Oscar-winner Christopher Walken as a small-town undertaker determined to save his business in a community where no one ever dies. Co-starring Ella Ballentine and Jane Curtin, and premiering at AFM via Embankment Films, the film promises a uniquely American blend of satire and dark humor.
One of the most talked-about American projects of the market is “Phantom Son,” which brings together Renée Zellweger and acclaimed director David Yates for a psychological thriller with strong international appeal. Developed under Zellweger’s Big Picture Co. with Carmella Casinelli, and fully financed and co-produced by AGC Studios, the film follows Audrey, a solitary woman whose son was abducted twenty years earlier. When a runaway girl named Ronnie appears, Audrey becomes convinced the stranger is her missing child, triggering a haunting psychological spiral where the borders between reality, obsession, and illusion collapse.
Written by Ian Scott McCullough (“The Mosquito Coast”) and handled worldwide by AGC and CAA Media Finance, “Phantom Son” is slated for a Q1 2026 production start and was presented to buyers in targeted sessions during this year’s AFM.
Sources: Screendaily, Voltagepictures.
Share:
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