BACKSPOT Trailer (2024) Evan Rachel Wood, Drama Movie

BACKSPOT Trailer (2024) Evan Rachel Wood, Drama Movie

BACKSPOT Trailer (2024) Evan Rachel Wood, Devery Jacobs, Drama Movie
© 2024 -XYZ Films

"This world is not kind to weak people." XYZ Films has revealed the trailer for a Canadian cheerleading film called Backspot, which plays more a serious drama or intense thriller than a sports comedy or satire. This is similar to that rowing film The Novice a few years ago. This premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last year and hits US theaters in May. Devery Jacobs (from "Reservation Dogs") stars as Riley, who is given the chance to cheer with the all-star squad, Thunderhawks. With a competition looming, Riley must navigate her crippling anxiety, her relationship with her girlfriend, and also her desperate need for approval from her new coach. One positive review states: “You may think you know your sports movie tropes, but you’ve never seen them used quite this way — that is, within a queer cheerleading drama firmly focused on complex female characters — and Waterson’s Backspot delights in skewing such expectations." Dang, okay! This also stars Evan Rachel Wood as coach, Shannyn Sossamon, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Thomas Antony Olajide, and Wendy Crewson. It's also executive produced by Elliott Page. Check it out below.

Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for D.W. Waterson's Backspot, direct from XYZ's YouTube:

Backspot Poster

An ambitious cheerleader, Riley (Devery Jacobs), faces new adversity, her increased drive for perfection and triumph, and a demanding head coach (Evan Rachel Wood) when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad - called the Thunderhawks. With a competition looming, Riley must navigate her drive alongside her crippling anxiety, as one wrong move could bring her crashing to the ground… Backspot is directed by Canadian indie filmmaker D.W. Waterson, making their feature directorial debut after some music videos, short films, and the "That's My DJ" series previously. The screenplay is written by Joanne Sarazen, from a story by D.W. Waterson. Produced by Devery Jacobs, Martin Katz, Finley MacNeil, Alona Metzer, and D.W. Waterson. This initially premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last year. XYZ Films will releasee Backspot in theaters nationwide starting May 31st, 2024 this summer. Look any good?
XYZ Films shared the official trailer for Backspot, the drama film starring Devery Jacob as a queer cheerleader navigating the world of professional cheerleading.

Also starring in the movie are Evan Rachel Woods, Shannyn Sossamon, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Thomas Antony Olajide, and Wendy Crewson.

Release Date
Directed by D.W. Waterson, making their feature-length directorial debut, Backspot world premiered at Toronto International Film Festival and opens in theaters on May 31, 2024.

Synopsis
An ambitious cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) faces both new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad and its demanding head coach (Evan Rachel Wood). With a competition looming, Riley must navigate her drive with her crippling anxiety as one wrong move will bring her crashing to the ground.

Reviews
The Hollywood Reporter review called the film a ‘sensitive and stylish coming-of-age journey’ wrote, “There are few shocking twists or fiery confrontations. Riley’s journey is built instead on smaller, more internal shifts — through the note of wonder that creeps into her voice as she starts to see Eileen as a queer role model, or the sourness that subsequently seeps into her dynamic with Amanda. The world is sketched out through telling details, like the sharp contrast between Amanda’s crowded but cozy home and Riley’s spotless but chilly one, rather than labored exposition. In time, Riley’s path leads her toward a reconciliation between the person she’s expected to be, the person she wants to be, and the person she truly is. Jacobs‘ magnetic performance alerts us to every tiny miscalculation or epiphany along the way.”

Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Backspot
EXCLUSIVE: XYZ Films has acquired U.S. and Australia/NZ rights to distribute the TIFF sports drama Backspot, directed by first-time feature filmmaker D.W. Waterson and starring Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs) and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld).

XYZ Films will release the film domestically and has set a theatrical release for spring of 2024.

The rights deal was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group with James Emanuel Shapiro from XYZ Films.

In the film, an ambitious cheerleader (Jacobs) faces both new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad with an overbearing head coach (Evan Rachel Wood).

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The film was written by Joanne Sarazen with a story by D.W. Waterson, and is produced by Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs and Martin Katz, and is executive-produced by Elliot Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, J.C. Davidson and Katisha Shaw, with Nikki Yee co-producing. The film was produced with the participation of Telefilm and Ontario Creates, in association with Crave and CBC and with the financial participation of Shaw Rocket Fund and Rogers Telefund.

Also starring are Kudakwashe Rutendo, Thomas Antony Olajide (Learn to Swim), Noa Diberto, Olunike Adeliyi (The Porter), with Wendy Crewson (On the Basis of Sex) and Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight’s Tale).

“What do you do after you’ve just seen the best cheerleading movie since Bring It On? If you’re a distributor, you beg the filmmakers to let you work on the film. I’m so grateful and excited the filmmakers chose us as their partners on Backspot and cannot wait to share this film with audiences next year,” said XYZ’s James Emanuel Shapiro.

“The Backspot filmmaking team is thrilled to partner with American distributor XYZ Films. Their collection of work is elevated, their roster of emerging filmmakers is impressive, and we are grateful for Backspot to be listed among them. Through conversations, XYZ has proven their deep understanding of our kick*ss cheerleading film and has been a steadfast champion. We are so excited to see where this partnership takes Backspot,” said the producers.
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