Jennifer Hudson Sundance’s All Rise Acquired By Byron Allen Entertainment Studios

Byron Allen Entertainment Studios announced Monday it has acquired the 2018 Sundance film “All Rise”, starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.

The film, which was titled “Monster” in its 2018 Sundance Film Festival competition, is based on the award-winning, New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers, which received the Coretta Scott King Award which recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African Americans that reflect the African American experience.

“All Rise” tells the story of Steve Harmon (Harrison), a 17-year-old honorary student whose world collapses around him when he is accused of murder. The film follows his dramatic journey of an intelligent and sympathetic Harlem film student attending elite high school through a complex legal battle that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison.

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“This is a very important and timely film that inspires us and reminds us that together we have the power to make the necessary positive changes,” Allen said in a statement. “This excellent story shows us how every day African Americans are placed to fail in the classroom, boardroom and courtroom long before we bleed to death on the streets.”

Entertainment Studios plans to release the film nationwide later this year in the fall.

“All Rise” is the feature debut from veteran commercial and music video director Anthony Mandler. The screenplay was written by Radha Blank, Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer.

“It has been an honor to tell the timely story of Walter Dean Myers and a privilege to bring Steve Harmon to the screen,” Mandler said in a statement. “Today, more than ever, it’s essential to see Steve’s journey in a modern and nuanced way that reflects the world we live in.”

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The film also stars Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Ehle (“Zero Dark Thirty”), A $ AP Rocky, Nas, Tim Blake Nelson (“O Brother, Where Art Thou”) and John David Washington of ” BlacKkKlansman ”.

The film was produced by Tonya Lewis Lee, Nikki Silver, Aaron L. Gilbert, Mike Jackson and Edward Tyler Nahem.

“We are delighted to partner with Byron Allen and Entertainment Studios to bring this dynamic story of the power of art, family and hope to the public as we all work together to define and ensure a just society for all “Lee said in a statement.

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“All Rise” premiered in the US Drama Competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and was produced by BRON Studios, Tonik Productions and Get Lifted Film Co. in association with Charlevoix, Red Crown and Creative Wealth Media with the producers executives John Legend, Jeffrey Wright, Nas, Dan Crown, Yoni Liebling, Jason Cloth, Richard McConnell, Linnea Roberts, Ty Stiklorius, Byron Allen, Carolyn Folks and Jennifer Lucas.

“We are honored to be a part of ‘All Rise’,” Stiklorius and Mike Jackson of Get Lifted Co. said in a statement. “This is an urgent and necessary film that gives a human face to beautiful and complex young people who are too often treated as throwaway by our criminal justice system. We believe this film will inspire and enable audiences to stand up for our common humanity. “