Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired North American rights to “What You Wish For,” a new suspense-horror film written and directed by Nicholas Tomnay.
The film stars Nick Stahl (Showtime’s “Let the Right One In”) and had its world premiere at Fantasia Festival. Tamsin Topolski (“Slow Horses”) and Randy Vasquez (“America Has Fallen: Election Day”) also star. Magnet plans to release the film this summer. Tomnay previously co-wrote and directed “The Perfect Host,” which starred David Hyde Pierce.
In “What You Wish For,” Stahl plays Ryan, a talented chef whose crushing gambling problems prompts him to leave town in a hurry for the safe haven of an unnamed Latin American country. There, his friend Jack (Brian Groh), a more prestigious chef with his own unique troubles, welcomes him into his home. Ryan has no idea how Jack’s able to afford his extravagant lifestyle, and he doesn’t want to feel envious, but he knows that he wants it for himself. Soon, a grim twist of fate will give that to him. Ryan assumes his friend’s identity, and soon discovers just what Jack’s been doing to maintain the lifestyle he so desperately craved.
“Nicholas Tomnay has delivered a sleek, unsettling film with a tremendous performance by Nick Stahl” said Eamonn Bowles, co-CEO of Magnolia Pictures.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Magnet on ‘What You Wish For.’ They have great taste and really understand the film. I can’t wait to share this wicked tale with you all very soon,” said Tomnay, who wrote the screenplay along with directing the picture.
An Evergreen Avenue production, in association with Freestyle Picture Company, “What You Wish For” is produced by Nicholas Tomnay, Francesca Silvestri and Kevin Chinoy.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia co-CEO Dori Begley and SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, and The Film Collaborative on behalf of the filmmakers.
Magnet is the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures. It specializes in horror, action, comedy and Asian cinema. Previous credits include Tomas Alfredson’s “Let the Right One In,” Takeshi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Gareth Edward’s “Monsters” and Neil Marshall’s sword and sandals epic “Centurion.”