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EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to director Rob Edwards’ sneaker-themed animated movie Sneaks, voiced by Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Oscar nominee Laurence Fishburne, Chloe Bailey, and Grammy-winning producer Mustard.
Pic also features Grammy winners Roddy Ricch, Ella Mai and Macy Gray, with five-time nominee Swae Lee, Quavo and NBA star Chris Paul also joining the cast. Paul plays himself, hosting a Met Gala-like event for avid sneakerheads seen in the film.
The family movie follows a pair of one-of-a-kind, collector sneakers, Ty (Anthony Mackie), and Maxine (Chloe Bailey), stolen by ‘the Collector’ (Laurence Fishburne). In their attempt to escape, Ty ends up separated from his sister in the middle of NYC. Alone, and desperate to find her, Ty meets with JB (Martin Lawrence), a streetwise, scuffed up sneaker with an affinity for anything shiny, learning that your best life begins when you get out of your box. A comedic-trio of singing Wire Shoes (Mustard, Young Miko, Donovan Louis Bazemore) narrate the movie.
Others rounding out the cast include Sam Jay, Keith David, Donovan Louis Bazemore, Young Miko, Kiana Ledé, Jonathan Kite, Amari McCoy, Olympic skateboarder phenoms Sky Brown and Rayssa Leal, Rico Rodriquez, Bobbito Garcia, and Andrew Hawkins.
Briarcliff is planning a nationwide theatrical release in 1500+ theaters on Easter weekend, April 18, 2025. The deal was negotiated by CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers, and by Tom Ortenberg, Jessica Rose, and Danielle Goodman Strong on behalf of Briarcliff Entertainment.
GFM Animation is handling international sales and is giving it a market premiere screening at the American Film Market in Las Vegas this week.
Producers are Laurence Fishburne and Helen Sugland of Cinema Gypsy Productions with Len Hartman and Gil Cloyd of Lengi Studios.
After establishing the framework for film’s soundtrack, Mustard assembled Ella Mai, Roddy Ricch, Young Miko, Amirah, DSTRCT, Macy Gray and the film’s composer, Terrace Martin, to bring the music to life.
The film also features characters Sky and Rayssa, skateboarding sneakers designed by Nike and voiced by real-life Olympic skateboarders Sky Brown and Rayssa Leal.
Pic was financed by Ashland Hill Media Finance, Rabbits Black, RTG Features, and TPC. GFM Animation also secured production financing.
10 Summers Co-Founder and President Meko Yohannes, and Robyn Klein and Jeremy Ross, producers of the Oscar-winning animated short, If Anything Happens I Love You, serve as executive producers. Also EPing are Quavo, Ashland Hill Media Finance’s Joe Simpson, Simon Williams, Jonathan Bross and Juliana Lubin, Waffle Iron’s Justin Biskin, RTG’s Aron Phillips and Matt Aronson, Rabbits Black’s Sean Krajewski, Ronnie Exley, Lawrence Minicone and Violet Aurora Sison Law, Three Point Capital’s Ali Jazayeri and Viviana Zarragoitia and Assemblage’s Max Madhavan and Arjun Madhavan. Bobbito Garcia serves as cultural advisor.
“Sneaks is a delightful animated film that’s fun for the whole family. Sneakerheads of all ages will enjoy a vibrant story set in the streets of NYC, celebrating the ever-growing community of sneaker collectors and enthusiasts,” said Briarcliff’s CEO Tom Ortenberg. “It beautifully highlights how sneakers serve as a form of self-expression and personal style and Briarcliff is thrilled to bring this family-friendly film to the big screen.”
