Charlie Polinger's debut feature, The Plague, is set to captivate global audiences with its world premiere at Cannes' prestigious Un Certain Regard section. This powerful film will be unveiled to buyers at the Cannes Film Market, where UTA Independent Film Group and Cinetic are co-selling the U.S. rights, while AGC Intl. takes charge of international territories.
Written and directed by Polinger, The Plague features a stellar cast led by the renowned Joel Edgerton (Boy Erased, Black Mass, Loving) alongside an ensemble of promising newcomers including Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, and Kenny Rasmussen. Together, they weave a narrative that resonates deeply with themes of vulnerability and resilience.
At its core, The Plague tells the poignant story of a 12-year-old boy grappling with the complexities of adolescence amidst the harsh social dynamics of an all-boys water polo summer camp. Pulled into a cruel tradition targeting an outcast rumored to have "The Plague," the protagonist finds himself caught in a labyrinth where the boundaries between game and reality blur. His growing unease reveals fears that the jest may conceal a chilling truth, leaving audiences questioning the nature of innocence and cruelty.
The film is brought to life through the collaborative efforts of esteemed production companies Spooky Pictures, Hellcat, The Space Program, Five Henrys Productions, and Image Nation. Produced by luminaries such as Lizzie Shapiro (Shiva Baby, Sasquatch Sunset), Lucy McKendrick, Edgerton (The King, The Gift, Boy Erased), Steven Schneider (Strange Darling), Roy Lee (Barbarian), and Derek Dauchy (Late Night With the Devil), it benefits from the guidance of executive producers Ben Ross, Rami Yasin, Gabi Antal, Reuben Walker, Cullen Conley, Cory Finley, James Presson, Gus Deardoff, and Lexi Tannenholtz.
Based in New York, Charlie Polinger marks his directorial debut with The Plague. His second project, The Masque of the Red Death, produced by A24 and Picturestart and starring Sydney Sweeney, is slated to commence production later this year.
Joel Edgerton, a versatile figure in the entertainment industry known for his prowess as both actor and filmmaker, launches The Plague under his newly established banner, Five Henrys Productions. This endeavor follows his acclaimed work on Thomas M. Wright’s The Stranger, which premiered at Un Certain Regard in 2022. Additionally, Edgerton wrote and directed The Gift (2015) and Boy Erased (2018). Most recently, he graced screens in Clint Bentley’s Sundance sensation Train Dreams, further cementing his status as a cinematic force.
Building upon the triumph of Spooky Pictures and Image Nation’s previous ventures, including the horror hit Late Night With the Devil—which shattered records as IFC Films’ highest-grossing opening weekend ever with over $10 million at the U.S. box office—The Plague heralds a wave of upcoming projects. Among these are Randall Okita’s Menace, starring Isabel May, and Damian McCarthy’s Hokum, featuring Adam Scott.
Represented by UTA and Anonymous Content, Charlie Polinger continues to shape narratives that resonate globally. Meanwhile, Joel Edgerton is represented by WME and Anonymous Content. AGC’s Executive Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs, Anant Tamirisa, skillfully negotiated the deal on behalf of AGC.
