Warner Bros.’ Clockwork buys Park Chan-wook’s next film

Clockwork buys – Clockwork, Warner Bros.’ specialized division led by Christian Parkes, is in exclusive negotiations for North American rights to Park Chan-wook’s next film, “The Brigands of Rattlecreek.” The star-studded Western—featuring Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, P

A deal like this doesn’t wait for a slate to be finished. Even before Clockwork has released a single movie, Warner Bros.’ specialized division—led by former Neon executive Christian Parkes—has kept landing the kind of headlines that make the market pay attention.

It started at CinemaCon, where Clockwork said it would release Sean Baker’s next movie. Then it moved to Cannes Classics. handling the repertory re-release of Ken Russell’s controversial “The Devils. ” which played as part of the Cannes programming. Now Clockwork has turned its focus to what may be its most high-profile play yet: Park Chan-wook’s next film. “The Brigands of Rattlecreek.”.

Clockwork is in exclusive negotiations for the North American rights to “The Brigands of Rattlecreek.” The news first surfaced via Deadline. which reports the rights deal for the title ended up in the mid-teens. The film’s package landed with arguably the strongest star power and prestige of any project presented on the Cannes Market.

Park Chan-wook, who is currently the jury president at Cannes this year, still managed to make a splash with a deal for his own film—an especially notable move given how closely Cannes audiences and industry players watch what directors do when they’re sitting at the center of the festival.

“The Brigands of Rattlecreek” is a Western starring Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and Chinese star Tang Wei. Tang Wei previously appeared in Park’s “Decision to Leave.”

The logline the film carried into the market reads: In the lawless frontier of the late 19th century. a small town sheriff and a mysterious stranger form an uneasy alliance to track down a ruthless gang responsible for a brutal robbery and massacre. leading them into a dangerous confrontation with a Native American tribe and a descent into their own personal madness.

Craig Zahler (“Bone Tomahawk”) wrote the script, and the film includes rewrites by Park. Park is also producing alongside Brad Fischer (“Zodiac”). Jisun Back for Moho Film, Mike Medavoy, and Georgia Kacandes are executive producers. Clockwork is planning a theatrical release, and WME Independent and CAA Media Finance are co-repping sales rights.

The timing has its own kind of narrative pull. Neon released Park’s last film. “No Other Choice. ” and the recent history with other Clockwork-linked talent suggests a pattern of reunions that studios tend to chase when audiences already know what to expect. Baker’s next movie. “Ti Amo!. ” is also in that conversation: it made $40 million at the worldwide box office but missed out on an Oscar nomination. With “Brigands” positioned for a major studio marketing push. the question becomes whether Park can translate his prestige into the kind of broader awards-season momentum studios usually want.

For Park, “Brigands” would also mark his first English-language film since 2013’s “Stoker.” That shift—back into English after more than a decade—adds extra weight to how Clockwork chooses to sell the project.

There’s also a bigger industry chessboard behind the curtain. Many of the plans for “Brigands” and other projects on Clockwork’s slate are expected to depend on Warner Bros.’ future under the wing of Paramount Skydance. Still. the message from these moves is plain: for now. Clockwork is working to build a buzz-worthy slate that looks hard for anyone to ignore.

Until the Western arrives, Clockwork already has one theatrical moment locked in. The re-release of Ken Russell’s “The Devils” comes to theaters for a one-week special engagement this October.

Warner Bros. Clockwork Christian Parkes Park Chan-wook The Brigands of Rattlecreek Matthew McConaughey Austin Butler Pedro Pascal Tang Wei Cannes Market North American rights Deadline WME Independent CAA Media Finance The Devils CinemaCon Sean Baker Ti Amo! No Other Choice Stoker Zodiac Bone Tomahawk