You could have called this one, and in fact, it was in the ether for a few weeks: Austin’s favorite filmmaking son Richard Linklater will debut his next film “Everybody Wants Some,” at SXSW Film Festival next spring. Considering its release date comes just a few weeks after the fest, there was little doubt that he would debut the film anywhere else, and this afternoon SXSW made it official.
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Slated to be the Opening Night film for the 23rd edition of SXSW Film Festival on March 11, 2016, it’s doubly connected to SXSW because the sports-related comedy is programmed in the festival’s SXsports section, which is in now in its third year running. Originally described as his “spiritual sequel to ‘Dazed and Confused,’ “Everybody Wants Some” (formerly known as "That’s What I’m Talking About") is a comedy set in the world of 1980s college life, following a group of college baseball players as they navigate their way through unsupervised young adulthood. “Get ready for the best weekend ever” is the film’s tagline.
“We are so thrilled to premiere Richard’s latest work, which is really funny, instantly quotable, filled will great new talent,” said Janet Pierson, head of SXSW Film. “Audiences are going to love this paean to competition and coming of age in the ’80s.”
“Everybody Wants Some” features an ensemble cast of Will Brittain, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Anthony Guzman, Tyler Hoechlin, Blake Jenner, Glen Powell and Wyatt Russell. The film is written and directed by Linklater and produced by Megan Ellison of Annapurna Pictures, Linklater and Ginger Sledge. Paramount Pictures will release the film on April 15, 2016.
While not official yet, you can also expect Jeff Nichols’ sci-fi film “Midnight Special” to debut at SXSW as well.