Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that it has obtained the domestic distribution rights for Max Joseph’s (“Catfish: The TV Show”) feature film directorial debut, We Are Your Friends. The film, from Working Title Films and StudioCanal, stars Zac Efron (Neighbors), Emily Ratajkowski (Gone Girl) and Wes Bentley (Interstellar, The Hunger Games). The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
We Are Your Friends is about what it takes to find your voice. Set in the world of electronic music and Hollywood nightlife, an aspiring 23-year-old DJ named Cole (Efron) spends his days scheming with his childhood friends and his nights working on the one track that will set the world on fire. All of this changes when he meets a charismatic but damaged older DJ named James (Bentley), who takes him under his wing. Things get complicated, however, when Cole starts falling for James’ much younger girlfriend, Sophie (Ratajkowski). With Cole’s forbidden relationship intensifying and his friendships unraveling, he must choose between love, loyalty, and the future he is destined for.
In making the announcement, Silverman stated, “We are so thrilled to finally be in business with Working Title, and know this is the beginning of a great relationship. The same can be said for Max, a wonderful new voice who will, hopefully, make many movies here. It is also thrilling to have our dear friend Zac back, as well as Emily, who will appear in ‘Entourage,’ and Wes, who is so wonderful in ‘Interstellar.'”
Kroll added, “The breadth and depth of our slate allows us to proudly bring features from every genre, scope and scale to our audiences, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to usher in Max Joseph’s fresh, raw image of a love story set in today’s modern-day music scene.”
“I couldn’t be happier to have Warner Bros releasing my first feature film,” director Joseph said. “Having their passion and expertise behind ‘We Are Your Friends’ is a dream come true.”
Joseph directs from a screenplay he wrote with Meaghan Oppenheimer, from a story by Richard Silverman. The producers are Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Liza Chasin, with Silverman executive producing and Johanna Byer serving as co-producer. Randall Poster (The Wolf of Wall Street, Divergent, Spring Breakers) is the films music supervisor.
We Are Your Friends will be distributed in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. StudioCanal, who financed the film, is handling international sales and will be distributing in France, UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.