Autobiographical comedy by one of the world’s earliest Star Wars viewers, Patrick Read Johnson. The film, which takes its title from the date of the original Star Wars premiere, tells the story of Johnson’s foray into the world of filmmaking, which finally led to his first viewing of the film. The teaser transports us back to Johnson’s childhood when he began making short films for his family to enjoy at home. John Francis Daley portrays Johnson as a youngster, and he’s seen making shorts out of everything he can find, turning everyday stuff into landscapes. The teaser also hints at how Johnson’s enthusiasm for cinema drove him to become one of the few individuals ever to see the original Star Wars picture, making him the first fan of the franchise.
It’s clear that 5-25-77 is a classic coming-of-age narrative from the new trailer. Johnson’s journey to becoming a filmmaker will be shown through his exploration of his past as a Star Wars fan. In 1999, Johnson started working on 5-25-77. The movie’s global debut at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois, in 2017 was the culmination of a protracted production process. After its release, the film only played in theatres for a brief time before it was removed from circulation. Now, MVD Entertainment has secured the rights to distribute 5-25-77 internationally and has guaranteed a fall release.
Eric D. Wilkinson, MVD Entertainment Group’s Director of Acquisitions, said: “It’s an honour to collaborate with a director of this calibre. I wanted Patrick to be a part of the MVD family since I’m a big fan of his work (particularly Angus) and because I knew 5-25-77 was his passion project. Because of the tagline “serving artists and audiences,” I knew MVD could assist Patrick to finish his picture, and I’m convinced that viewers would like the outcome.” In addition, Johnson said: “I’d want to thank MVD, and the particular individuals, in this amazing company, who saw something special in our film, that compelled them to go above and beyond, in order to make sure audiences everywhere could get the chance to find something special in it, too!”
Limited screenings of the film will take place during the month of September, with a wider release on digital, VOD, and disc scheduled for October 11th, 2022.
Synopsis
5-25-77 is based on the actual tale of a geeky, isolated, and optimistic filmmaker named Pat Johnson, who grew up, fell in love and became the first Star Wars enthusiast in the history of cinema.