Warner Bros. will do without a U.S. theatrical release for “Lost River,” Ryan Gosling’s much-derided directorial debut, which stars Saoirse, Christina Hendricks, Eva Mendes, Matt Smith and Iain De Caestecker. Instead, the studio will release the fantasy drama via home entertainment in April. “Lost River” premiered to mostly negative notices in May at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section.

Variety’s Justin Chang gave it a pan: “‘Lost’ is indeed the operative word for this violent fairy tale about a fractured family trying to survive among the ruins of a city overrun by thugs, sexual predators and other demons….”

Warner Bros. acquired U.S. rights in 2013 during Cannes, where Sierra/Affinity sold international rights to 20 markets. The film, which was shot in Detroit, was called “How to Catch a Monster” at that point.

Production companies are Marc Platt, Phantasma Films and Bold Films production. Producers are Platt, Gosling, Adam Siegel, Michel Litvak and David Lancaster.

Source: Variety