Highland secures 24 AFM sales deals for The Black Demon: Atlantis

By Grace Kim

Highland Film Group has closed 24 sales deals for The Black Demon: Atlantis while handling the thriller’s worldwide sales at AFM. The film remains in post-production, and the company has released a first-look image featuring Jack Kesy.

Highland describes The Black Demon: Atlantis as a sequel to The Black Demon and a shark-survival actioner. Kesy plays Jerry, an undercover DEA agent who reaches Atlantis, an offshore fortress prison in the Pacific Ocean.

In Highland’s synopsis, Jerry arrives after his operative mysteriously disappears while he investigates inmate deaths linked to Diego Núñez, played by Harold Torres. Highland characterizes Núñez as a feared cultlike killer rumored to wield ancient powers.

Highland’s synopsis describes mutilated bodies surfacing around the prison as rumors of blood rituals spread through the cell blocks. The company says fear, violence and chaos follow.

Highland says Jerry must rely on Chato, a haunted inmate who knows the prison’s hidden underworld. Its synopsis then has the legendary Black Demon tear into Atlantis, forcing Jerry into a desperate fight for survival.

Highland describes the prison as becoming a nightmarish war zone. The synopsis shifts the film from investigation to survival.

Carmen Cabana directs, and Highland lists Resident Evil, Ms. Marvel and Narcos: S2 among Cabana’s credits. Cabana, Aaron Benjamin and Boise Esquerra penned the screenplay, according to Highland.

Highland identifies Benjamin with The Nest. It identifies Esquerra as an Austin Film Festival award-winner whose credits include Blackwater and The Black Demon.

Highland’s cast list also includes Julio César Cedillo and Vanesa Restrepo. It identifies Cedillo’s credits as Sicario and Narcos: Mexico, and Restrepo’s as The Surrogacy; Harold Torres is also listed for ZeroZeroZero.

Highland identifies Javier Chapa as a producer for Mucho Mas Media, whose credits include The Long Game and Rosario. The company lists Rosario as starring Emeraude Toubia and David Dastmalchian. Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier produce for Highland Film Group.

What does the sales slate change for viewers?

Highland’s announcement identifies 23 territorial agreements and one airline-rights agreement. That broadens the film’s planned distribution path, but it does not tell viewers when or where they can watch; the announcement gives no release date or platform schedule.

Highland’s closed sales agreements

Highland lists the agreements as follows:

• Vertigo Releasing — U.K., Canada; Leonine Studios — Germany.
• IIF — Italy; Mis.Label — Scandinavia.
• NOS Lusomondo — Portugal; Three Lines Pictures — Benelux.
• Mediasquad — Poland; Blitz Film — ex-Yugoslavia.
• Foxx Media Group — Czech Republic/Slovakia; Karpat Media — Romania.
• Sun Distribution — Latin America; Chantier Films — Turkey.
• Falcon Films — Middle East; Filmfinity — South Africa.
• Rialto Distribution — Australia/New Zealand; Nikkatsu/AMG — Japan.
• Kinolights — South Korea; Lionsgate Play — India.
• Pioneer Films — the Philippines; Antenna Entertainments — Malaysia.
• PT Prima Cinema — Indonesia; Moviecloud — Taiwan.
• Movie Copyright — Thailand; PictureWorks — airline rights.

The Black Demon: Atlantis follows The Black Demon, which starred Josh Lucas. Highland says the first film reached theaters in 2023 and then claimed the No. 1 spot on Amazon’s streaming rankings for seven consecutive days.

Highland links the sequel to that seven-day run and the original film’s success. Its announcement gives no festival premiere, release date, budget or platform commitment for The Black Demon: Atlantis.

Highland’s next audience-facing step is to convert those agreements into release dates and platform details. Until then, the announcement establishes distribution reach, not confirmed access.