Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders was one of the more anticipated dramas set to be released this winter, but THR has reported that New Regency has delayed the release of the movie due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
The Bikeriders premiered at the Telluride Film Festival this summer (to rave reviews) and was originally set for a release on December 1st. Now that talks between SAG-AGTRA and the AMPTP have broken down, those hoping that the actors’ strike would swiftly conclude are left wondering how much longer it could last. With a cast that includes Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Norman Reedus, and more, it’s easy to see why the studio would want to trot out their stars for the marketing campaign. At the moment, The Bikeriders doesn’t have a new release date, but “the intention is to still qualify it for this year’s awards race.“
The move also pushes The Bikeriders out of the way of Renaissance, Beyoncé’s recently-announced concert film which is set to hit theaters on December 1st.
The Bikeriders is a “furious drama following the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club through the lives of its members. Kathy, a strong-willed member of the Vandals who’s married to a wild, reckless bikerider named Benny, recounts the Vandals’ evolution over the course of a decade, beginning as a local club of outsiders united by good times, rumbling bikes, and respect for their strong, steady leader Johnny. Over the years, Kathy tries her best to navigate her husband’s untamed nature and his allegiance to Johnny, with whom she feels she must compete for Benny’s attention. As life in the Vandals gets more dangerous, and the club threatens to become a more sinister gang, Kathy, Benny and Johnny are forced to make choices about their loyalty to the club and to each other.“
While the delayed release of The Bikeriders is disappointing, we’ll hopefully still get to see the film later this year when SAG-AFTRA gets a fair deal.