VOLTAGE PICTURES LAUNCHING WORLDWIDE SALES IN CANNES
Cannes, France (May 19, 2019) The highest grossing independent film of 2019, After, is set to return to screens with a sequel, it was announced today by Anna Todd, bestselling author of the “After” series and Voltage Pictures president and COO Jonathan Deckter. Stars Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin will reprise their roles as Tessa and Hardin in the New Adult romance that ignited over $50million at the international box office. Voltage Is launching sales on the hotly tipped sequel in Cannes.
After opened number one in 17 countries and has since taken over $7.7 million in France, over $8.2 million in Germany and $7 million in Italy. Other high performing territories include Russia, which took of $2.8 million, Benelux which took over $1.4 million and Scandinavia which took over $2.7 million.
Producers of the new film are Anna Todd, the author of the international bestselling New Adult novel on which the film is based, Jennifer Gibgot (17 Again, Step Up), Andrew Panay, CalMaple’s Mark Canton (Den of Thieves, 300), Courtney Solomon (Cake, An American Haunting) and Wattpad’s Aron Levitz. Voltage’s Nicolas Chartier, Wattpad’s Eric Lehrman, and Deckter will executive produce. Anna Todd, in addition to serving as producer, has written the script with Mario Celaya.
“We’ve already seen what this magic mix of a compelling narrative, extremely hardworking talent and insatiable fans can do at the box-office on After,” said Deckter. “We partnered with incredibly strategic international distributors on the first installment of After, who were able to unlock the film’s immense value and we can’t wait to get back to work on the second.”
Anna Todd said “I am beyond excited to begin the sequel to After! The fans made the first film a worldwide success and we are ready to bring them more of Hardin and Tessa in the sequel. This next film will truly capture the heart and feel of the books.”
“Anna’s story created a global fanbase that can’t get enough of these characters,” said Aron Levitz, Head of Wattpad Studios. “From the billion reads this story accumulated on Wattpad to the millions of people who’ve seen it in theaters around the world, we thrilled be part of the amazing team continuing After’s journey.”
The After sequel is the latest film to be added to Voltage’s production and sales slate for Cannes. The company recently launched sales on the action-thriller The Minuteman starring Liam Neeson and the gangster biopic Lansky starring Harvey Keitel, Emory Cohen, Sam Worthington and Austin Stowell.
ABOUT VOLTAGE PICTURES
Voltage Pictures, established in 2005, is a privately held, film and television production, financing and sales entity. Voltage has won six Academy Awards including Best Picture for The Hurt Locker, and three Academy Awards for Dallas Buyers Club.
Recently released by Voltage is the blockbuster comedyI Feel Pretty starring Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, and Naomi Campbell, which had a wide theatrical release via STX Entertainment in April 2018 and has since generated nearly $100m in worldwide box office.Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Kaya Scodelario, Jim Parsons, and John Malkovich premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival to great acclaim.
After based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Anna Todd, debuted number one at the box office in 17 international territories including Germany and Italy when released in April 2019 and is currently the highest grossing independent film of the year. The company is currently in post-production on Eve directed by Tate Taylor and starring Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, John Malkovich, Common, Geena Davis, and Joan Chen.
Other titles released by Voltage includeColossal starring Anne Hathaway released in April 2017 by Neon and A Family Man starring Gerard Butler, andKeep Watching, starring Bella Thorne which released by Screen Gems.
Voltage was a co-financier and sales agent for the acclaimedWind River, from Taylor Sheridan in his directorial debut, starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen, which premiered to rave reviews at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival which took over $44 million in worldwide box office. Chartier and Deckter were executive producers on the project. Recent titles on the Voltage sales slate include the Toronto International Film Festival FIPRESCI Prize winner Skin from the Academy Award-winning director, Guy Nattiv, and starring Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald, and Vera Farmiga. The film was also an official selection in the Panorama section at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival and will be released in the US by A24. The short on which the film is based won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short.All Eyez on Me from director Benny Bloom and starring Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira and Kat Graham took $53 million in worldwide box office.Her Smell, starring Elisabeth Moss, Amber Heard, Cara Delevingne, and Dan Stevens was released in April 2019.