Emma Thompson Action-Thriller ‘Dead of Winter’ Picked Up by Vertigo for U.K., Ireland (EXCLUSIVE)

Vertigo Releasing has acquired U.K. and Irish distribution rights to “Dead of Winter,” the action-thriller starring Emma Thompson that had its world premiere at Locarno Film Festival earlier this month.

The film, directed by Brian Kirk (“Luther,” “Game of Thrones,” “The Day of the Jackal”) in his first feature since 2019’s “21 Bridges,” casts Thompson as Barb, a widowed fisherwoman who becomes trapped in a Minnesotan blizzard and accidentally discovers the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Realizing she’s the victim’s only hope, Thompson’s character must transform from ordinary woman to unlikely hero.

Reviewing the film for Variety, Jessica Kiang wrote: “‘The Dead of Winter’ entertains, largely due to Thompson’s sturdy portrait of grace clad in a sensible, fleece-lined overcoat of gumption.”

Thompson also executive produced the project alongside her starring role. The cast includes Judy Greer (“13 Going on 30,” “Halloween Kills”), Marc Menchaca (“Companion,” “Ozark”), Laurel Marsden (“Ms. Marvel”), and Thompson’s daughter Gaia Wise (“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”), who portrays her mother’s younger self.

“Dead of Winter” had its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival earlier this month to a sold-out audience, where Thompson was also honored with the festival’s Leopard Club Award recognizing her decades of screen work.

Vertigo Releasing will release the film theatrically in the U.K. and Ireland on Sept. 26, the same date Vertical Entertainment rolls it out in North America. The project was produced and financed by Stampede Ventures and augenschein Filmproduktion, with international sales handled by north.five.six.

“We’re very excited to bring ‘The Dead of Winter’ to U.K. cinemas in September,” said Ed Caffrey, Vertigo Releasing’s head of acquisitions. “The combination of Emma Thompson’s powerhouse performance and Brian Kirk’s thrilling direction is a knockout.”

Recent Vertigo releases include Petra Volpe’s “Late Shift,” Jai Courtney thriller “Dangerous Animals,” Lorcan Finnegan’s “The Surfer” starring Nicolas Cage, and horror hit “Late Night With the Devil.” Upcoming titles include a 4K restoration of Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Dogtooth,” dog-perspective haunted house story “Good Boy,” and “Saipan,” focusing on the infamous Roy Keane-Mick McCarthy confrontation during Ireland’s 2002 soccer World Cup preparations.