Expanded Release Opportunities Push WILDFIRE Theatrical Launch to April 19

(Fayetteville, AR)  Favorable response from exhibitors, preview audiences and cross-promotional partners has encouraged indie distributor Hannover House, Inc. (OTC: HHSE) to significantly expand the theatrical release for its first fully-facilitated feature production, “WILDFIRE: The Legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse.” The family-appeal movie was inspired by the # 1 worldwide hit song by Michael Martin Murphey, and features the final big-screen performance for the late Anne Heche.

The film was originally slated for a key market theatrical release on Jan. 26, 2024. However, competitive factors and positive audience response have created the opportunity for a wider theatrical break. The release date of April 19 will provide Hannover House with another three-months of pre-release marketing, as well as place the title in a rare calendar window in which no other family appeal releases are scheduled as competition. There are two other wide release films set for April 19:  the Guy Ritchie World War II action film, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” from Lionsgate and “Abigail” a horror-thriller from Universal. There are no live-action family features in the weeks leading up to and following April 19, with only two animated releases set as potential competition for family viewers:  Disney’s “Luca” on March 22, and Viva’s “Dragonkeeper” on April 5.

In addition to traditional in-theatre promotions, Hannover House will also be working with a large assortment of local, regional and national cross-promotional sponsors, ranging from rodeo and horse-riding groups to a major, national retail clothing chain.

“Murphey’s ‘WILDFIRE’ song is so iconic and beloved,” said Eric Parkinson. “We have seen how cross-generations react to this movie and to the story of a young girl who befriends a mysterious, wild horse.  It’s got a great message and is a wholesome, family-appeal movie that leaves you with a smile. The opportunity to fit the movie’s release into a window in which there are no competitive family titles was a blessing for the movie and for families that love inspirational films,” he continued.

Chevel Shepherd, winner of NBC’s “The Voice” competition portrays Samantha Nichols, a young girl who is struggling to deal with the sudden loss of her parents. Michael Martin Murphey portrays Pastor Micah, and Mo Brings Plenty (“Yellowstone”) plays Udeli, a Cherokee Spiritual Advisor. The parents are played by Adrian Paul (“Highlander”) and Cara Jade Myers (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). Other notable cast members include Olivia Slatton-Fite as Joyce, Thesa Loving as Grandma Bette, Major Dodge Senior as Fred and the late, screen legend Anne Heche as the rodeo trainer.

The film was produced by Snowy Morning, Inc., and shot primarily in eastern Oklahoma, with creative guidance and advisors from the United Keetowah Band of Cherokee Indians.  Financing was provided through private investors and through facilitation loans made by Hannover House, in consideration for sales representation rights.

In addition to the film’s national theatrical release on April 19, 2024 – Hannover House is working with Cinemark Theatres for a series of “sneak-peek” / word-of-mouth events to occur on February 28 in selected markets.

TITLE LISTING INFORMATION

 

Release Date:             April 19, 2024

 

Title:                           WILDFIRE: The Legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse

 

Genre:                        Family / Horses / Live-Action

 

Writers:                      Written by ERIC PARKINSON and MIKE SNYDER, based on the hit song by MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY

 

Director:                     ERIC PARKINSON

 

Producers:                 CHRIS LARGE, KYLE MARTENS, ERIC PARKINSON

 

Stars:                          CHEVEL SHEPHERD, ANNE HECHE, ADRIAN PAUL,

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY, MO BRINGS PLENTY,

OLIVIA SLATTON-FITE, THESA LOVING, MAJOR DODGE, SNR., CASSIE SELF and CARA JADE MYERS.

 

Director of  Photography:    ANDREW PARKE

 

Editor:                        ANDREW BOWCOCK

 

Running Time:           111 Minutes

 

MPAA Rating  :           Pending (anticipate PG)

 

Format:                      1:185 / Dolby Stereo

 

Trailers & Feature Content Distribution by DELUXE LABS, dlxindies@bydeluxe.com

Posters & Standee Distribution by HANNOVER HOUSE, Eric@HannoverHouse.com

 For More Information Contact:  ERIC PARKINSON, Eric@HannoverHouse.com / 818-481-5277

 

 SHORT SYNOPSIS:

Inspired by the legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse and the #1 hit song by Michael Martin Murphey -  WILDFIRE tells a story of redemption and forgiveness as a young girl deals with her guilt following the sudden and tragic death of her parents.

LONG SYNOPSIS:

Inspired by the legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse and the #1 hit song by Michael Martin Murphey -  WILDFIRE tells a story of redemption and forgiveness as a young girl deals with her guilt following the sudden and tragic death of her parents (Adrian Paul and Cara Jade Myers). Samantha Nichols (Chevel Shepherd) and her brother, Austin, move to Oklahoma to live on Grandma’s horse farm. Emotionally lost and distraught, Samantha finds peace from the attentions she receives from a mysterious wild horse that befriends her. With training from a champion rider (Anne Heche), Samantha enters the barrel racing competition and begins to accept her new situation and friends. But her guilt remains, as Samantha hides the dark secret that she feels responsible for her parent’s death. She cannot forgive herself. But, with the help of a local Cherokee Spiritual Advisor (Mo Brings Plenty) and her pastor (Michael Martin Murphey), Samantha comes to realize a greater truth and a solace to her life.

Terrific Action on WILDFIRE and other Hannover House Ventures

Dear HHSE Friends & Followers - We cannot wipe the smiles off the faces of our WILDFIRE post-production team!  Our major studio distribution partner provided some sage notes (mostly regarding sound effects and the film's Music edit) - which have proven to be incredibly insightful and helpful in enhancing the dramatic contrasts between scenes and holding the audience in suspense.  Although the preview audience in Fort Worth responded enthusiastically to our event of Nov. 2nd (Lone Star Film Festival - opening night GALA feature film), the "new-and-improved" cut and mix of WILDFIRE is quite a positive leap forward.

Also - after our well-received PREMIERE, we were approached by four major Cross-Promotional Sponsors and six of the top USA Exhibition Chains with exciting opportunities to elevate the film to that next level: a wide USA theatre count opening!

Back in October, Hannover House and our distribution partners for WILDFIRE had planned on a theatrical release date of Jan. 26, 2024, and with a respectable - but not jaw dropping - level of theatre support.  This plan matched what we thought would be a rather quick path to theatres, and onto Streaming and DVD in short order.  However, as the major studios have proven with their cross-promotional sponsors on event level films, having such brand-name sponsors behind the film - as well as nationally known organizations for cross-promotional support - requires greater coordination and time for implementation. Accordingly, we are looking at April 19 as the film's USA theatrical date... and at a much wider screen count than we have ever achieved or thought possible. It's an incredible home run and major achievement for the first movie fully produced through the support and facilitation of Hannover House or any independent production studio.  

Over the next few weeks, there will be a handful of "sneak peek" engagements prior to the wide USA release in April.  The first "sneaks" are planned for late February.  Additionally, the company's international distributor for the movie is scheduling a screening of the final version at the Berlinale' / European Film Market in mid-February.  

But otherwise... POSTERS / LOBBY BANNERS / TRAILERS and ads will start being visible (and with increasing momentum) by early March... with a jaw-dropping wide- opening of the film in late April (which most likely will be April 19).

Some HHSE longs have often said that Hannover House is "ONE" big release away from being a major force (and a major entertainment stock). When you combine this enhanced release of WILDFIRE with the company's OTC markets UPLIST (now in motion!) and our MYFLIX launch activities, the momentum will be unstoppable. 

More information will be posted here - as well as on the S.E.C. Edgar site - as these long sought-after goals are coming to fruition.

GO HHSE!!

  

At long last - HHSE Access to S.E.C. Edgar is fully restored!

Greetings & Happy New Year to our HHSE Friends & Followers - Perhaps it's a brilliant strategy to stop hackers and unauthorized access? But the hoops that the S.E.C. Edgar Department requires of issuers / filers to regain access to an account is more complicated than a Dan Brown book plot. The procedures were navigated in November / early December... only to have to be re-created from scratch once again in mid-December (until TODAY) in order to have access authorized for a third party XBRL & Filing services provider. But it got done... and the November Form 8 was finally accepted by the Edgar publication desk.  We also updated the company address and some additional listings information today - both of which items will go "live" tonight (according to the automated message from the Edgar help desk).

Now that we've cleared the S.E.C. Edgar hurdle, we can resume filing the documents that support the company's UPLIST application to OTC: QB - which many feel will be the beginning of VERY BIG things for Hannover House shareholders.

In other news, the Wyoming annual corporate taxes and filings were also completed.  Every year for the past twelve years, our status shows as "delinquent" during the first week of January... yet, prepayment and filing early is not an option prior to mid-December (and even then, a filing made Dec. 15 will STILL show as delinquent UNTIL such time that the super-busy Wyoming Secretary of State team processes the documents). So, it's all good... even though it may still show as delinquent for a few more days. 

The factors that have kept the HHSE stock depressed these past few months are all fading away as we move into our OTC:QB uplist and a terrific 2024!