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Vertical Acquires 'The Weight,' Sets Sept. 18 Theatrical Release in North America

Early festival buzz at Sundance/Berlinale positioned Padraic McKinley’s debut for a wide rollout.

Overview

  • Vertical confirmed it has taken North American rights to the 1930s-set Western thriller following its festival run.
  • A wide theatrical opening is scheduled for September 18, 2026, as part of the distributor’s fall slate.
  • The film stars Ethan Hawke as a prisoner offered a perilous gold-smuggling deal by a warden played by Russell Crowe.
  • Padraic McKinley makes his feature directorial debut, with a script by Matthew Chapman and Shelby Gaines from a story by Matthew Booi and Leo Scherman.
  • CAA Media Finance and WME Independent arranged financing and co-brokered the deal, with Vertical partner Peter Jarowey representing the distributor, and early reviews report a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score.