Matthew McConaughey plays the dual role of star and producer on the new comedy Surfer, Dude, which Anchor Bay Entertainment has acquired for release in the U.S. Anchor Bay Entertainment President Bill Clark announced the deal today.
Anchor Bay Entertainment plans to release McConaughey’s Surfer, Dude late this summer followed by release on DVD and other home entertainment formats. It stars McConaughey along with Woody Harrelson, Willie Nelson, Scott Glenn, and a strong cast of fresh faces including Alexie Gilmore, Nathan Phillips, Ramon Rodriguez, Sarah Wright, Zachary Knighton, and Jeffrey Nordling, in a film directed and co-written (with Cory Van Dyke) by S.R. Bindler, director of Hands on a Hard Body. Jason Berk and Matt Lane executive produced and financed the picture through Berk|Lane Entertainment, with additional financing provided by Winchester Capital Management. McConaughey’s production company, jklivin, produced.
Surfer, Dude tells the tale of a soul-searching surfer who is experiencing an existential crisis. McConaughey stars as Steve Addington who finishes a world surf tour and returns to his hometown of Malibu. At first, it’s a great reunion but reality quickly sets in.
“‘Surfer, Dude’ is about a surfer who lives to surf. When the waves disappear for an entire summer — he goes mad,” said producer Mark Gustawes. “Matthew plays a character who’s a throwback to the ’70s: Peace, love, and a righteous wave is what ‘Surfer, Dude’ is all about. Anchor Bay dug it — and we decided to surf it, together.”
The film is the latest theatrical release from Anchor Bay Entertainment, the country’s leading independent home entertainment company. It recently scored strong reviews and box office for The Grand and Sex and Death 101. Anchor Bay Entertainment is a subsidiary of Starz Media.
“The acquisition of ‘Surfer, Dude’ underscores where this company is headed,” Clark said. “We will continue to acquire strong titles for theatrical and DVD release while maximizing the abilities of the various divisions at Starz, including our global sales team and the premium entertainment channels. We’re excited about working with talent of Matthew McConaughey’s caliber, as well as the creative production team assembled for this fun project.”
“We’re pleased to be working with Anchor Bay Entertainment on the release of ‘Surfer, Dude,'” stated Berk and Lane jointly. “This new relationship affords us some unique opportunities across many platforms.”
