New York, NY – March 7, 2025 – RLJE Films has announced the acquisition of “Descendent,” the feature debut from Peter Cilella, ahead of its world premiere at SXSW. Written and directed by Cilella, the film stars Ross Marquand (“The Walking Dead,” “Invincible”) and Sarah Bolger (“Mayans M.C.”). RLJE Films has picked up the rights for North America, and will release the film in theaters later this year. Highland Film Group is handling international rights.
Set in present-day Los Angeles, “Descendent” follows Sean Bruner, a school security guard who is haunted by childhood trauma while preparing for the birth of his first child with his wife, Andrea. After a beam of light appears in the sky during a late-night shift, Sean wakes up in the hospital with an inexplicable talent for vivid, unsettling drawings of extraterrestrials and desert landscapes. As his visions blur the line between dreams and reality, Sean’s grip on sanity unravels. With time running out, he must confront his fears to escape his family’s tragic legacy.
“This film was a labor of love, and I could not be more thrilled to partner with RLJE Films to bring ‘Descendent’ to SXSW and beyond,” said director Peter Cilella. “It truly takes a village to bring a project like this to life, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.”
“We look forward to releasing “Descendent’ alongside Peter Cilella, who delivers a gripping fusion of suspense and sci-fi, offering audiences a deeply personal story wrapped in cosmic fears that harkens to ‘Fire in the Sky.’ With its haunting atmosphere, the film taps into primal fears of parenthood, destiny, and forces beyond our control,” said Chief Acquisitions Officer of RLJE Films Mark Ward.
“We are delighted to team up with our friends at RLJE Films on ‘Descendent’ – they are the ideal partner to introduce Peter Cilella’s chilling and riveting science fiction thriller to audiences in the U.S., beginning with its anticipated debut at SXSW,” added Highland Film Group’s CEO Arianne Fraser and COO Delphine Perrier.
“Descendent” is produced by David Lawson Jr., Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, and Caleb Ward, and executive produced by Arianne Fraser, Delphine Perrier and Henry Winterstern for Highland Film Group, and Mark Ward. The deal was negotiated by Mark Ward and Brandon Harmer of RLJE Films with Highland Film Group.
