Austin Butler (Dune and Elvis) has been adding significant projects to his to-do list, and soon he will be the lead in The Bikeriders this year, alongside Tom Hardy (Venom and Mad Max: Fury Road) and a long list of A-list stars.
Directed and written by Jeff Nichols, the film follows the rise of a Midwest motorcycle club throughout the lives of its members. Action, drama and chaos on the road will be in abundance.
After the actors and writers’ strike, Disney seems unfazed in its decision to cancel some major projects, and this one was no exception. However, it has now found a new home with Focus Features.
When will The Bikeriders be released?
The Bikeriders has not only found a new home with Focus Features but also has a release date. The drama will debut on the big screen on June 21, 2024, according to IMDb and several other media outlets.
Originally scheduled for release on December 1, there was a drastic change by the studio. However, this could not be carried out because it was rescheduled after Beyonce and AMC joined forces to release the Renaissance concert film on the same date.
Directed by the filmmaker responsible for Midnight Special, the story is set in the 1960s and narrates the rise and challenges of a motorcycle enthusiasts’ club in the Midwest called Vandals. The film explores the complexities of each member’s life and what it means to be part of the club.
Jeff Nichols talked about the film’s plot and Austin Butler
According to Deadline, the director didn’t undertake the drama overnight but spent almost two decades contemplating how to approach what would become The Bikeriders, as he didn’t want to glamorize motorcycle culture.
Jeff Nichols based the story on the work of photojournalist Danny Lyon, who rode with and photographed the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club for two years, starting in 1963. In an interview with the outlet, the filmmaker confessed:
“Portraits can be beautiful and captivating, but it’s those words on the page, that’s where the conflict arises. There’s toughness, there’s roughness. There’s also beauty in that. I’ve always been drawn to stories and people of the working class and seeing how they look at the world and approach things and the honesty and clarity, at times, that they have, but there’s also a sharper edge to all of that“.
The director’s choice of Austin Butler for the lead role, bringing Benny to life, wasn’t too difficult, especially considering the actor’s charisma and talent in front of the cameras.
Variety reported that Nichols spoke about the Dune star and revealed his first impression of the young actor, saying, “I was at this restaurant, and he walked up and shook my hand. He’s like 6-foot-3, and his hair is blonde and didn’t look like Elvis’ hair. I was immediately struck by the fact that this was the most attractive person I’ve ever met in my life“.
Later, when asked about the character and Austin’s work on it, he confirmed, “I needed a character that the audience would not question that this woman Kathy and this man Johnny would put so much into. He’s like an empty glass of water. They pour all of this stuff into him, and he just can’t hold it. He doesn’t want to hold it, and that’s where his acting chops come in“.