Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions acquire Naomi Watts thriller ‘Lakewood’

Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions have acquired North American rights to Phillip Noyce’s thriller Lakewood starring Naomi Watts. Premiering at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, the Boies Schiller Entertainment and Limelight funded production is slated for release in the first quarter of 2022.

Lakewood is the story of Amy Carr (Watts) desperately racing against time to save her child Noah (Colton Gobbo) as authorities place her small town on lockdown due to an active shooter incident.

Vertical’s Peter Jarowey and Roadside’s Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff commented, “We are thrilled to be back in business together to release Phillip Noyce’s tense and timely thriller Lakewood in early 2022. We all saw it in Toronto and agreed it would be the perfect collaboration. The combination of Phillip’s storytelling and Naomi Watts’ incredible talent will make a great start to 2022.”

Lakewood is directed by award-winning director Phillip Noyce (Clear and Present Danger, The Quiet American), written by Chris Sparling and stars two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts, Colton Gobbo and newcomer Sierra Maltby. The film is produced by David Bois, Andrew Corkin, Alex Lalonde, Chris Parker, Zack Schiller, Dylan Sellers, Chris Sparling, Naomi Watts and executive produced by Devin Andre, Alex Dong, Theo James, Aaron Kaplan, Tyler Zacharia. The production team includes composer Fil Eisler, director of photography John Brawley, editor Lee Haugen, production designer Zosia Mackenzie, art director John O’Regan, set decorator Karen Churma and costume designer Amanda Lee Street.

The film was shot on location in the North Bay of Ontario, Canada.

Peter Jarowey negotiated the deal on behalf Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions. UTA Independent Film Group, CAA Media Finance and Endeavor Content negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.

Photo: Sabrina Lantos