As announced by Deadline, the producers of “Reagan” starring Dennis Quaid have reached a distribution agreement with ShowBiz Direct to release the movie in theaters nationwide on August 30, 2024. The film will be the debut, wide release from the recently launched studio led by former exhibition veteran Kevin Mitchell, former Lionsgate distribution president Richie Fay and former co-president of Open Road distribution Scott Kennedy.
“Portraying Ronald Reagan was an enormous challenge,” noted Quaid. “This is an important movie, one of my most interesting roles, and I am really excited to work with the ShowBiz Direct team.”
The “Reagan” cast also includes Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan, Mena Suvari as Reagan’s first wife Jane Wyman, Lesley-Anne Down as Margaret Thatcher, David Henrie as teenage Reagan, Kevin Dillon as Jack Warner and Jon Voight as KGB agent Viktor Petrovich.
A biopic set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the film was shot in Oklahoma and California and follows Reagan’s journey from his childhood in Dixon, Illinois, to Hollywood, to the Presidency of the United States and the world stage. “Reagan” is directed by Sean McNamara (“Soul Surfer,” “Miracle Season”).
“I’ve had my eyes on this movie for a while,” noted Mitchell. “Dennis Quaid does such an amazing job portraying Ronald Reagan. Our goal in launching ShowBiz Direct is to help close the gap between the creative community and exhibition while embracing the theatrical release of motion pictures in a very transparent way. ‘Reagan’ was sought by many, and we are happy that we could reach an agreement with Mark Joseph and his team.”
Originally scheduled for a 2023 release, “Reagan” was one of the few movies filmed during the Covid crisis and was forced to shut down twice, with shooting resuming seven months later, before facing additional delays during the actors strike.
The film begins with an aging Petrovich, now 90 years old, being visited by an up-and-coming Russian leader who wants to know how the Soviet Union was lost. Petrovich, the spy who knows everything there is to know about Reagan, begins recounting the tale of his adversary: the man he mockingly nicknamed “The Crusader,” beginning in 1922 when 11-year-old Ronald Reagan faces his first life crisis.
The ShowBiz Direct team brings years of experience to the film. Mitchell has been engaged in the theatrical exhibition business for more than 35 years, launching his career at Cinemark Theatres, where he currently sits on the board of directors. The founder and former CEO of ShowBiz Cinemas, he recently sold his interests in the bowling and movie chain with theaters in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Wyoming.
Fay has been in the film industry for 50 years having served as President of Film Marketing and Buying at AMC Theatres, President of Distribution at both Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate Films and Distribution, and head at Broad Green Pictures and Global Road Entertainment.
A former Miramax and Open Road executive, Kennedy’s 30-year career has seen him involved in the release of more than 500 films, including “Chicago,” “Gangs of New York,” “No Country for Old Men,” “Amelie” and “Spotlight.” Andrew Kramer and Aubrey Thomason of Willkie Farr & Gallagher advised and negotiated the deal on behalf of ShowBiz Direct while Jay Shanker of Jayaram Law negotiated on behalf of the film.
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