Roadside Attractions & Vertical Entertainment Acquire North American Rights to Aubrey Plaza’s Thriller “Emily the Criminal”

Aubrey Plaza’s latest project is getting some roadside assistance…

Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment have acquired the North American rights to the 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress’ indie thriller Emily the Criminal.

Aubrey Plaza, Emily the CriminaThey’ve slated the film for an exclusive theatrical release this year, with Redbox joining the partnership for home entertainment distribution.

John Patton Ford’s feature directorial debut follows Emily (Plaza), who is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a “dummy shopper,” buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring their business to the next level in Los Angeles.

Ford penned the original screenplay, with Megalyn Echikunwoke and Gina Gershon rounding out the cast.

Plaza produced the film through her Evil Hag Productions banner,.

“John Patton Ford’s propulsive thriller Emily The Criminal is a spectacular directing debut with a revelatory performance from Aubrey Plaza as a wildly entertaining antiheroine that recalls Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde,” said Roadside Attractions’ Co-Presidents Howard Cohen & Eric d’Arbeloff.

“When we saw the film, we knew we had to have it. It is an exceptional story that is sure to excite and thrill audiences,” said Vertical Entertainment’s Partner & CEO Peter Jarowey. “We are excited to bring two long-standing collaborators in Roadside and Redbox together on one film that we care so deeply about. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

“We continue to believe in the importance of the theatrical experience and the power of watching movies together on a big screen,” added the filmmakers in a joint statement, “and couldn’t be more excited and confident in our stellar partners at Roadside and Vertical to connect our film with audiences everywhere.”

Natalie Eva Marie Starring in the Thriller “Inconceivable”

Natalie Eva Marie is preparing to make her film debut…

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress, fitness model and professional wrestler is starring opposite Nicolas Cage in the thriller Inconceivable.

Natalie Eva Marie

The film, which also stars Gina Gershon, Faye Dunaway and Nicky Whelan, follows Katie (Whelan), who moves to town with her young daughter in order to start a new life after enduring abuse in her past and she quickly befriends another mother, Angela (Gershon), and her husband Brian (Cage). Angela notices odd behavior from Katie, and begins to question whether Katie’s intentions are as innocent as she makes them out to be, or if something dark is lurking beneath the surface.

Written by Chloe King, filming is set to begin next month with Lionsgate Premiere releasing the picture in the U.S., while Highland Film Group will sell internationally.

Natalie previously appeared on the reality television series Total Divas as part of the main cast.