‘Tornado’: IFC Films & Shudder Take North American Rights To John Maclean Survival Thriller Starring Tim Roth, Jack Lowden & Kōki

Max Goldbart
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: IFC Films and Shudder have acquired North American rights to John Maclean’s survival thriller Tornado featuring Tim Roth, Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden and Japanese star Kōki.

The follow-up to 2015’s Slow West will stream exclusively on AMC streamer Shudder in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with a theatrical release through IFC Films.

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Tornado stars Academy Award-winner Roth, Lowden, Takehiro Hira (Giri/Haji) and Japanese star Mitsuki Kimura, known as Kōki (Touch). Set in 1790s Britain, it follows the eponymous lead (Kōki), a young and determined Japanese woman who finds herself caught in a perilous situation when she and her father’s (Takehiro) travelling puppet Samurai show crosses paths with a gang of ruthless criminals led by Sugarman (Roth) and his ambitious son Little Sugar (Lowden). In an attempt to create a new life for herself, Tornado seizes the opportunity to take matters into her own hands and steal the gold from their most recent heist.

“With a fresh take on a beloved and traditional Japanese film genre, Tornado is a razor sharp and bloody thrill ride that we’re excited to be a part of,” said Scott Shooman, Head of AMC Networks’ Film Group.

The film is produced by Leonora Darby, James Harris, and Mark Lane for Tea Shop Productions, and is based on a story by Maclean and Kate Leys. Executive producers include Ashland Hill’s Joe Simpson, Simon Williams, Andy Wang and Matthew Chausse with financing from Screen Scotland and Ashland Hill. HanWay Films negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers, with Shooman representing IFC Films and Shudder.

Yesterday, Deadline revealed that Lowden had joined the ensemble cast of 20th Century’s Ella McCay, the new movie from filmmaker James L. Brooks.

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