RLJE Films Acquires Crime-Revenge Thriller “Motor City”

STARRING ALAN RITCHSON, SHAILENE WOODLEY,

PABLO SCHREIBER, BEN FOSTER

Download Hi-Res Stills HERE

NEW YORK - October 30, 2025 - RLJE Films, a distribution vertical within the IFC Entertainment Group, announced today that they have acquired the U.S. distribution rights to MOTOR CITY, the visceral and unrelenting crime-revenge thriller starring Alan Ritchson ("Reacher"), Shailene Woodley ("Big Little Lies"), Pablo Schreiber ("Halo"), and Ben Foster (HELL OR HIGH WATER). Directed by Potsy Ponciroli (GREEDY PEOPLE) from a screenplay by Chad St. John (LONDON HAS FALLEN), the dialogue-free film features a propulsive, needle-drop-driven score curated by musician Jack White. MOTOR CITY made its world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, followed by its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it drew acclaim for its raw intensity and powerhouse performances. RLJE Films will release MOTOR CITY exclusively in theaters in 2026.

MOTOR CITY takes place in 1970s Detroit, where a working-class romantic is framed by a ruthless gangster after falling for his girlfriend. After years in prison, he returns with only one mission: revenge.

Director Potsy Ponciroli commented, "We shot MOTOR CITY to be immersive, every frame, every sound, designed for a theater. It's a love letter to Detroit, to 70s cinema, and to the kind of filmmaking you can feel. It's the kind of movie that makes you happy that theaters still exist."

"MOTOR CITY hits like a freight train - raw, stylish, and completely unforgettable," said Chief Acquisitions Officer of RLJE Films Mark Ward. "Led by an extraordinary cast, Potsy Ponciroli has crafted an electric cinematic journey that demands to be seen on the big screen."

MOTOR CITY is produced by Greg Silverman and Jon Berg for Stampede Ventures, Joshua Harris for Peachtree Media and Gramercy Park Media, and Cliff Roberts. The deal was negotiated by Mark Ward for RLJE Films and Range Select and WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers.

About RLJE Films

RLJE Films is a distribution company whose releases include the Nicolas Cage phenomenon MANDY from Panos Cosmatos, S. Craig Zahler's BONE TOMAHAWK starring Kurt Russell, and Eli Craig's CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD. Recent films include Benjamin Brewer's creature feature ARCADIAN, CHILDREN OF THE CORN, a chilling re-telling for a whole new generation from director Kurt Wimmer, Claudio Fäh's high-concept shark thriller NO WAY UP, and John Stalberg Jr.'s MUZZLE.

About Stampede Ventures

STAMPEDE VENTURES is a global media company founded by media veterans Greg Silverman, Gideon Yu and Jaeson Ma. Recently released films include the Netflix documentary The Saint of Second Chances, Lionsgate's Ordinary Angels starring Academy-Award winner Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson, Amazon's Space Cadet starring Emma Roberts and currently in release is The Dead Of Winter starring Academy-Award winner Emma Thompson. Grammy-winner Anderson Paak.'s directorial debut, KPOPS, will have its North American theatrical release in the first quarter of 2026.

Press Contacts

Judy Woloshen, [email protected]

Guillermo Restrepo, [email protected]