Blue Harbor, Variance Acquire Sundance Comedy 'The Musical'
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- Blue Harbor Entertainment and Variance Films acquired U.S. rights to "The Musical," a Sundance comedy that premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition this past January, with a nationwide theatrical release set for September 18.
- Unapologetic Projects Partners is joining Blue Harbor and Variance on the release, with the deal brokered by WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers.
- "The Musical" marks the feature directorial debut of actress-turned-filmmaker Giselle Bonilla, whose prior short film of the same name won the Audience Award at the American Cinematheque's 2024 Proof Film Festival and earned a jury Special Mention.
- Stereophonic Tony winner Will Brill stars as disgruntled playwright-turned-middle-school teacher Doug, who plots to ruin his nemesis principal Brady (Rob Lowe) by staging an inappropriate play with students; Gillian Jacobs plays Doug's ex-girlfriend.
- Blue Harbor most recently released the 2025 Sundance U.S. directing award-winner "Ricky" and Australian box office hit "Kangaroo Island," and is set to release sci-fi thriller "Orion" this fall.
- Variance Films previously handled theatrical releases of Taylor Swift: Eras Tour, Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, Oscar winner Drive My Car, Flow, The Substance, and Die My Love.
Why it matters: The September 18 release slots "The Musical" into Blue Harbor's fall indie slate alongside sci-fi thriller "Orion" and gives Bonilla — a Sundance Ignite and Latino Film Institute fellow — a theatrical platform for her debut. Pairing indie distributor Blue Harbor with Variance, which has proven concert-film and prestige crossover hits, gives the small comedy broader release infrastructure than a typical Sundance pickup.
