Susan Sarandon Starring In YouTube Red Original Film 'Vulture Club' From Director Maryam Keshavarz

Companies like Netflix and Amazon have been making headlines over the last couple years by buying up prestige films from festivals and releasing those films on their streaming services. The strategy has paid off pretty well for these companies, receiving awards recognition and publicity for their “original” films. However, streaming giant YouTube hasn’t really dived headfirst into this sort of strategy before. Instead, the Google company has only dipped their toes into feature films, primarily focusing on developing “in-house” talent on their YouTube Red premium service. But it looks like that’s all about to change.

YouTube has just announced that production has ended on their original film, “Vulture Club.” What makes “Vulture Club” so special is that this film is the first major project from YouTube Red that has some real star power and talent behind it. In fact, the streaming company is so happy with the film, they’re going to have a small theatrical run for the film, in hopes of garnering some awards consideration.

Co-written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz, best known for her film “Circumstance,” “Vulture Club” stars Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon as a veteran emergency room nurse who is secretly working to free her journalist son from a terrorist group that has captured him. Joining Sarandon are award-winning actors Edie Falco and Matt Bomer.

“’Vulture Club’ follows the singular journey of a woman abandoned by her government who finds community in the most unexpected places,” says Maryam Keshavarz. “It’s an honor to work with Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco and Matt Bomer who are the incredible talents and an innovator like YouTube to tell this timely story.”

“This emotional drama grapples with relevant issues journalists around the world face today. Maryam Keshavarz lends her powerful perspective as an Iranian-American filmmaker, and Susan Sarandon’s moving performance immediately drew us into this compelling film,” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube. “We are excited to be in business with Anna Gerb, Neal Dodson, and J.C. Chandor and work with the extremely talented cast of Vulture Club.”

As mentioned above, this is a big departure for YouTube Red, who has mainly focused on their homegrown talent, and only recently dabbled in documentary films. They recently made headlines for purchasing the distribution rights for Morgan Spurlock’sSuper Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!” However, that film lost its luster when Spurlock resigned from his production company due to a sexual harassment controversy.

“Vulture Club” marks the first time YouTube Red is putting themselves alongside the other streaming services with what they believe will be an awards contender, later this year. With the power of Google behind them, YouTube is clearly a company that can spend money like the rest of them.

So, if any company is to become a player in the streaming wars game, YouTube Red is primed and ready to go.