Shout! Studios Acquires Multi-Territory Rights to Steven Kostanski’s Deathstalker

Ahead of its world premiere at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival, Shout! Studios, a Radial Entertainment Company, has acquired distribution rights in English-speaking territories to the reboot of Roger Corman‘s cult sword and sorcery film series, Deathstalker. Daniel Bernhardt (John Wick, The Matrix Reloaded) stars as the titular character in this reimagined installment, with Patton Oswalt (Young Adult, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) providing the voice of the benevolent wizard Doodad. Directed by Steven Kostanski (The Void, PG: Psycho Goreman), Kostanski’s reboot focuses on the fantasy setting, utilizing creature suits, prosthetic FX make-up and stop-motion animation from his Action Pants FX shop. Shout! Studios also released Kostanski’s Frankie Freako in 2024.

Shout! Studios has secured exclusive distribution rights from Raven Banner Entertainment to Deathstalker including theatrical, home entertainment rights (digital, video-on-demand, broadcast, and physical media) and ancillary rights for cross-platform releases. Shout! plans a strategic launch of this movie across all major entertainment platforms, starting with a U.S. theatrical release later this year following the film’s festival run. Raven Banner Releasing will release in Canada day and date with Shout!

Deathstalker is the latest reimagining from director Kostanski and Hangar 18 Media who acquired the rights from Shout! Studios, who own the legendary Roger Corman IP. Shout! Studios has several additional Corman projects in active development.

In Deathstalker, the Kingdom of Abraxeon is under siege by the Dreadites, heralds of the long-dead sorcerer Nekromemnon. When Deathstalker recovers a cursed amulet from a corpse-strewn battlefield, he's marked by dark magick and hunted by monstrous assassins. To survive, he must break the curse and face the rising evil. Death is just the beginning… of great adventure!

“Steve is one of the most fiercely creative filmmakers working today, and his love for this IP and genre oozes from every frame,” said Radial Entertainment’s SVP of Acquisitions and Originals Jordan Fields. “Deathstalker is catnip for fans of the Dungeons and Dragons staples — thrilling battles, sly humor, offbeat creatures and thoughtful lore. Daniel Bernhardt is pitch perfect in a role he was born to play. Roger Corman would have marveled at what Steve, Daniel and Hangar 18 have accomplished here, and we predict the film will earn a devoted following very quickly.”

“We grew up on a steady diet of Roger Corman movies, especially Deathstalker II. These films were the inspiration for Raven Banner,” said Michael Paszt of Raven Banner. “To be a part of reimagining one of his most outrageously entertaining sword & sorcery classics with Steven Kostanski at the helm, Daniel Bernhardt, Pasha at Hangar 18 along with Slash & Rodrigo, our partners at BerserkerGang, is a total dream come true for us. Fans are in store for a wild ride of monsters, magic, and mayhem.

Produced by Pasha Patriki of Hangar 18 Media and Raven Banner's Michael Paszt, Andrew Thomas Hunt, James Fler. Slash and Rodrigo Gudino serve as executive producers under the BerserkerGang label. The film’s executive producers also include Daniel Bernhardt, Avi Federgreen, Peter Kuplowsky, Joshua Viola, Michael Paul Vasicek, Max Hensgen, Kevin Dickel, Klayton (Celldweller), Kevin the Ghost, Dave McGrath, Tom Biolchini, David Bond, Juan Pablo Reinoso, John Moss, Julie Dansker, Garson Foos, Bob Emmer and Jordan Fields.

The deal was negotiated between Jordan Fields of Radial and Raven Banner’s Michael Paszt and James Fler.