THE CARD COUNTER (2021): Paul Schrader Film Picked Up by Focus Features

Focus Features and Universal will distribute “The Card Counter” domestically and worldwide, respectively

Focus Features will oversee the domestic distribution of Paul Schrader’s upcoming crime thriller The Card Counter. Universal, Focus’ parent company, will oversee distribution in multiple overseas markets through their Universal Pictures International label.

Schrader was elated by the purchase of his film, which took place this past week at the Cannes Film Festival’s virtual market.

“The folks at Focus are the best at what they do,” said Schrader. “Over the years I’ve been jealous of directors in the Focus fold. Now happily I am one.”

A Rough Patch

Schrader made some waves back in March when The Card Counter’s production was shut down amidst the first surge of the coronavirus outbreak. At the time the film reportedly had only five more shooting days left, leaving Schrader irate at his producers’ decision of postponement.

“…I would have shot through hellfire rain to complete the film,” Schrader wrote on Facebook at the time. “I’m old and asthmatic, what better way than to die on the job?”

Back in June Schrader also chided the entertainment industry’s post-pandemic plan, which he described as “onerous”.

“I would not want to start a film from scratch under these conditions,” he said at the time. “Five days, knowing what you want, you can work your way through that, or rather limp your way through it.”

Although in the same interview it seems as if Schrader came around on understanding the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m not crazy about trying to release a film this year,” he said. “I will believe Venice and Telluride and Toronto when I see them. It doesn’t take much to stop those festivals. I don’t know what the urgency is.”

In the meantime, Schrader composed a “90% cut” of The Card Counter which he used when shopping the film around to distributors prior to Focus’ purchase. He reportedly completed the last five days of filming on the week of July 6 in Biloxi, Mississippi, after getting approval from the Screen Actors Guild. The film is now entirely in post-production.

An Overview

According to IMDb, which cites Variety, The Card Counter’s synopsis is as follows:

….William Tell, a gambler and former serviceman…sets out to reform a young man seeking revenge on a mutual enemy from their past. Tell just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk. Gaining backing from mysterious gambling financier La Linda, Tell takes Cirk with him on the road, going from casino to casino until the unlikely trio set their sights on winning the World Series of poker in Las Vegas. But keeping Cirk on the straight-and-narrow proves impossible, dragging Tell back into the darkness of his past.

Oscar Isaac leads the film as William Tell, with Tye Sheridan as Cirk, Tiffany Haddish as La Linda, and Willem Dafoe as the unnamed military colonel. Joel Michaely, Billy Slaughter, Amye Gousset, and Calvin Williams round out the supporting cast.

Focus Features has not set a specific release date, but it appears that it will not bow until 2021 at the earliest.

A teaser picture featuring Isaac, as well as the film’s first poster, have also been released.

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