Shalet Monique (“Straw”), Stephen Barrington (“The Crowded Room”) and V. Bozeman (“Empire”) are set to star in the upcoming psychological thriller “Leave” from Footage Films. The cast also features Newton Mayenge (“Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty”), LaVell Thompson Jr. (“The Stepmother” franchise) and emerging child actress Journee Paul. Directed by Chris Stokes, “Leave” is inspired by the true settlement town of Freemanville, Fla., a city where freed enslaved people made their home after the Civil War in 1866.
The thriller follows architect Jesse Hughes as he moves his family to the eerie town after finding a new job opportunity.
“He uproots his wife and their two kids to an old house in the countryside, in the middle of nowhere, to try to piece back together an almost broken marriage,” the synopsis reads. “But Keith later finds out that sometimes a change is not always the best solution when they get some unexpected visitors in their new home.” Produced by Footage Films Studios and distributed by Falling Forward Films, “Leave” is set to be released in theaters over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend on Jan. 16. Stokes is the founder and chairman of Footage Films, leading the production company alongside CEO Marques Houston and president Juanita Stokes. His additional directing credits include “You Got Served,” “Somebody Help Me,” “The Step Mother” franchise, among others. “The goal is to bring the urban community back to the theaters since a sharp decline,” Stokes said in a statement. “After successfully building the urban community fan base at BET+ and Tubi, we are ready to reignite the theaters.”
“Leave” will follow the release of Stokes’ sci-fi thriller “Run,” which is set for a theatrical release on Aug. 29. Check out the trailer for “Leave” below.