Austin Butler & Jodie Comer Lead Gritty Drama, The Bikeriders

Ever fancied peering behind the curtain and into the lives of a notorious 1960s motorcycle gang? Niche, but now’s your chance. Jeff Nichols’ next film centres on the Vandals, a gang united by its love of motorbikes, but which gradually turns more sinister. With Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy at the fore, here’s everything we know so far about The Bikeriders.

Everything We Know So Far About The Bikeriders

Austin Butler as “Benny” in 20th Century Studios’ THE BIKERIDERS. Photo credit: Kyle Kaplan. All Rights Reserved.

Director Jeff Nichols has been toying with the idea of a 1960s biker film for many years, and in 2022 his vision finally started becoming a reality, with a premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on 31 August 2023. It’s about to get its UK debut at the BFI London Film Festival, too, before arriving in cinemas before the end of the year. With a title taken from Danny Lyon’s 1967 photography book, the film unites Austin Butler (of recent Elvis acclaim) with our very own woman of many accents, Jodie Comer, in a sun-baked middle America populated by a rowdy biker gang.

What Is The Bikeriders About?

Kathy (Jodie Comer) tells photojournalist Danny (Mike Faist) the story behind her husband’s wild and reckless biker gang, the Vandals. Over the course of a decade, it evolves from a local club led by respectful leader Johnny (Tom Hardy) into a dangerous, sinister gang – while Kathy, at first horrified, is swept into a whirlwind romance with Benny (Austin Butler). As tensions rise and Kathy struggles to navigate her husband’s untamed nature and unquestioned loyalty to Johnny, Kathy, Benny and Johnny must consider their loyalty to the club – and to each other.

Taking the lead from the real Danny Lyon’s iconic photography book, The Bikeriders pictures a slice of gritty Americana, with authentic period-correct bikes immersing viewers in the look, feel and sounds of this bare-knuckle, grease-covered 1960s subculture.

First Look

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