Written by Matt Grobar, Deadline
After world premiering at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, the custody battle drama Our Son, starring Billy Porter (Pose), Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast), and newcomer Christopher Woodley, has set release plans with Vertical. Directed by Bill Oliver, from his script written with Peter Nickowitz, the indie is set to hit select theaters December 8th.
Other titles opening that day include Searchlight’s Poor Things starring Emma Stone, Studio Ghibli/Gkids’ The Boy and the Heron, Kino Lorber’s thriller La Syndicaliste, Outsider Pictures doc Elis and Tom, Janus Films’ doc Anselm, and Republic Pictures’ The End We Start From.
Also starring Andrew Rannells (A Simple Favor), Robin Weigert (Deadwood), Kate Burton (Grey’s Anatomy), and Phylicia Rashad (Creed III), Our Son depicts the next step in the zeitgeist of LGBTQIA+ equality: the right to divorce. Married for 13 years, aspiring artist Gabriel (Porter) and his ambitious partner Nicky (Evans) appear to have created the perfect life together. But Gabriel is struggling to find a creative and personal spark while caring for their young son Owen (Woodley). Stress and anxiety flare as their relationship gets to an irreparable place, forcing the couple to head for a divorce. Now, the two must navigate revealing the news to friends and family, a custody battle, and ultimately the journey to find themselves and support their son.
Produced by Tigresa, in association with TPC, Federal Films, and Slated, Our Son had financing provided by TPC. Pic’s producers are Fernando Loureiro, Eric Binns, Guilherme Coelho, Jennifer 8. Lee, and Christopher Lin. Exec producers include Porter, Oliver, Nickowitz, Ali Jazayeri, David Gendron, Liz Destro, Monte Lipman, Dana Sano, Nicole Jordan-Webber, John Wollman, Ross Boucher, Saikat Chakrabarti, Katie Leary, Morwin Schmookler, Jorge Ortiz, Jay Burnley, Robert Rippberger, Carissa Knol, and Jonathan Gardner. Porter and Evans additionally performed the film’s original song, “Always Be My Man,” written by Porter, Joe Killington & Conor Reeves.
Oliver calls Our Son “a deeply personal film for all involved.” It’s Vertical’s belief in the pic “and its message of hope and reconciliation,” he adds, that “makes them the ideal partner. I am proud to work with them to share the incredible work of our cast and crew with audiences.”
Adds Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey, “We’re thrilled to be part of bringing Our Son, this poignant tale of love, resilience, and self-discovery, to audiences this December. Beyond echoing the proud strides of the queer community, this film embarks on a fresh chapter in the pursuit of LGBTQIA+ equality—one that celebrates the freedom to both embrace love and gracefully let go.”
Director of Photography: Luca Fantini
