We have to be honest, when we first heard of “Rapture-Paloooza,” a title that is being developed as part of Lionsgate‘s new micro-budgeted genre film division, we didn’t think much of it. But studios are now wetting themselves over the possible gains to be made with no-budget fare as they watch “Insidious” getting ready to clear about $90 million worldwide on a $1.5 million budget. And these movies are attracting better-than-usual talent who are likely hoping to make some decent back end coin if the film becomes a hit.
THR reports that Anna Kendrick and John Francis Daley (who will always be Sam Weir to us) have joined Craig Robinson in the still terribly named “Rapture-Palooza.” Described as “Zombieland” meets “The Big Lebowski” (attention filmmakers: if you want your movie to get made, go in with that pitch) and written by Chris Matheson (the ‘Bill & Ted’ movies), the story “takes place a year after a religious apocalypse strips away half the world’s population. Ben and Lindsey try to reestablishing their sandwich cart business. Beyond the occasional blood rainstorm and talking locusts that surface occasionally, the sandwich sellers have a new problem: the Anti-Christ (Robinson) decides he wants to take Lindsey as his bride.”
Commercial director Paul Middleditch is helming the film which we presume will lens this summer during Daley’s break from “Bones.” The premise still sounds pretty stupid to us but there must be something there to get these folks together. Budget on this will run under $2 million.