Magnolia Pictures Acquires Bowling Comedy ‘The Gutter’ Starring Shameik Moore, D’Arcy Carden & Susan Sarandon

EXCLUSIVE: Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to The Gutter, a bowling comedy starring Shameik Moore (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse), D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place) and Susan Sarandon (The Fabulous Four), from the project’s producer and financier, Village Roadshow Pictures.

The film, directed by Yassir Lester (The Carmichael Show) & Isaiah Lester (Black-ish), will be released in theaters and on demand on November 1, after premiering at SXSW.

The Gutter watches as the frequently fired Walt (Moore) lands a position tending bar and de-roaching shoes at his local bowling alley AlleyCatz, feeling like he’s finally found a home. When money issues threaten AlleyCatz, Walt is pressured by former pro-bowler and current champion drinker Skunk (Carden) to accept his role as the greatest bowler ever put on this earth. While Walt’s love of big checks and in-your-face style of play dominates the pro tour, his detractors, including ratings-obsessed news anchor Angelo Powers (Paul Reiser) and fresh-out-of-retirement bowling-legend Linda “The Crusher” Curson (Sarandon), furiously attempt to snuff out Walt’s flame before it burns too bright.

Written by Yassir Lester and produced by Liz Destro, the film also stars Jay Ellis (Top Gun: Maverick), Kim Fields (The Upshaws), Jackée Harry (Sister, Sister), Paul Scheer (Twisters), Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback) and more. Exec producers are Jared Hess, Helen Estabrook, and Village Roadshow’s Tristen Tuckfield, Jillian Apfelbaum, and Nic Gordon.

Said Magnolia Pictures’ co-CEOs, Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley, “Joining a lineage of absurd, riotous bowling comedies, THE GUTTER knocks them down in grand style. We’re excited to be rolling this out in November.”

Added the filmmakers, “We are grateful and humbled to work with a prestigious film distributor like Magnolia Pictures. We are excited to get this insane movie out into the world. See you in November!”

SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden negotiated the deal on behalf of Magnolia Pictures, with Village Roadshow, CAA, and UTA on behalf of the filmmakers.