Musician Tom DeLonge, best known as the longtime frontman for Blink-182, is getting into the movie business. Seemingly not content with downtime, DeLonge recently reunited with Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker for a new album and massive world tour in 2023. But he’s also got his feature directorial debut, Monsters of California, coming our way - and it has officially secured distribution.
As reported by Deadline, Screen Media has taken North American rights to the sci-fi/adventure flick, which DeLonge co-wrote alongside Ian Miller. DeLonge also put his musical talents to use, composing and performing music for the film. As for the story at hand? It “follows teenager Dallas Edwards and his derelict friends on a quest to find the meaning behind a series of mysterious, paranormal events in Southern California.” DeLonge had this to say about it:
“If you take skateboarders, UFOs and Bigfoot, which pretty much sums up my entire life, you get a wild ride that will remind everyone of our early love of Amblin Films that inspired so many. I’m so thankful that Screen Media believed in me and my partner Stan Spry to create a coming-of-age adventure that will give the entire family a thrill that they won’t ever forget.”
DeLonge was gifted a pretty solid cast for his feature debut. The ensemble includes Jack Samson (Zodiac), Camille Kostek (Free Guy), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Richard Kind (Curb Your Enthusiasm), and Arianne Zucker (The Nanny Murders). Stan Spry and Eric Scott Woods are on board as producers. Seth Needle, EVP of Global Acquisitions and Co-Productions at Screen Media, had this to say:
“We are excited to be bringing Tom Delonge’s feature film directorial debut to audiences. We know that fans of both Tom’s music with Blink-182 and his work in the field of extraterrestrials and UFOs will love going on this sci-fi adventure. As the band returns to arenas, and global interest around UFOs builds, we couldn’t be more thrilled with our timing in releasing this exciting movie. When you see Monsters of California you, too, will be sure ‘Aliens Exist!’”
Screen Media took North American rights to the movie, but the company’s Foresight Unlimited banner will handle foreign sales. So they will pretty much be guiding the ship from here on out, with sales taking place at the American Film Market. Whether it goes to streaming or theatrical outside of the U.S. and Canada is largely up to how that plays out.
Monsters of California does not yet have a release date set.
