Though YouTube Red’s original series and films have yet to make a substantial cultural dent or generate widespread critical acclaim, the video giant has just scooped up a Susan Sarandon-starring indie in hopes of achieving the latter.
Vulture Club, which co-stars Edie Falco and Matt Bomer, has just completed principal photography and will premiere in theaters this year — making it eligible for Academy Awards nominations, Variety reports, before it bows on YouTube Red. The Maryam Keshavarz-directed film follows an emergency room nurse — played by Oscar winner Sarandon — who takes drastic measures to free her son, a war correspondent, who has been captured by terrorists. In the process, she discovers a helpful community of covert journalists and advocates.
“This emotional drama grapples with relevant issues journalists around the world face today,” said YouTube’s global head of original content, Susanne Daniels. “Maryam Keshavarz lends her powerful perspective as an Iranian-American filmmaker, and Susan Sarandon’s moving performance immediately drew us into this compelling film.”
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Vulture Club is being produced by CounterNarrative’s Anna Gerb, Neal Dodson, and J.C. Chandor as well as Keshavarz’s own MaraKesh Films. Falco will play the mother of another journalist, while Bomer will play a journalist who comes to the aid of Sarandon’s character. Other cast members include Julian Morris (Pretty Little Liars), Lola Kirke (Mozart In The Jungle), Adepero Oduye (12 Years A Slave), and Sheila Vand (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot).
