A film that has spent years in limbo is finally heading to audiences.
According to Deadline, the dystopian psychological thriller Newborn, from filmmaker Nate Parker and actor-producer David Oyelowo, will arrive in theaters on April 10, debuting exclusively at AMC Theatres.
Oyelowo stars as Chris Newborn, a man released after serving seven years in solitary confinement who attempts to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family. Instead, he discovers a society that feels just as isolating, turning his long-awaited freedom into a psychological struggle for survival.
The film also stars Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper and Jimmie Fails, with a supporting ensemble that includes Aiden Stoxx, Thomas Cadrot and Alexander Davis.
Previously known as Solitary, the project went into production in 2020 before going quiet. A combination of pandemic-era disruption, a tough marketplace for independent films, and the 2023 bankruptcy of financier Bron Studios slowed its path to release. Momentum returned recently through Mansa Studios, the production and distribution company launched by Parker and Oyelowo, which is now shepherding the film’s theatrical rollout.
Per Deadline, the filmmakers chose to partner with AMC on a theatrical-first model that emphasizes the communal big-screen experience. The release strategy aligns with Mansa’s broader ambitions to create alternative pathways between creators and moviegoers.
The outlet also reports that Mansa has raised $12 million in seed funding led by MaC Venture Capital, with participation from WndrCo, Galaxy Investment Partners, Base Ventures, Rainmaker Films, Black Capital VC, K Period Media and Robert F. Smith.
For Parker, whose breakout moment came with The Birth of a Nation in 2016, Newborn marks another step in rebuilding momentum as a filmmaker. Since then, he has directed projects including American Skin and the television drama Baselines.
Oyelowo, a Golden Globe, Emmy and BAFTA nominee, continues to balance acting and producing, with credits including Selma, The Butler and the series Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
After nearly six years off the radar, Newborn is finally set to meet audiences — this time in theaters.