•• Less than one month after the first trailer debuted for the upcoming digital feature Dead Rising: Watchtower, Crackle has now unveiled the poster, featuring star Jesse Metcalfe wielding what is described as a “sledge saw,” a combination of a sledge hammer and a chainsaw. Once Upon a Time star Meghan Ory is also seen in the poster, brandishing another dual weapon, which is both a samurai sword and a shovel.

Dead Rising: Watchtower takes place during a large-scale zombie outbreak. When a mandatory government vaccine fails to stop the infection from spreading, the four leads must evade infection while also pursuing the root of the epidemic, with all signs pointing to a government conspiracy. Politics, public paranoia, and media coverage play an important role in the story’s narrative. The cast also includes Virginia Madsen (Sideways), Dennis Haysbert (Men, Women & Children), and Rob Riggle (Let’s Be Cops, 21 Jump Street).

The Dead Rising game franchise has sold over 7.6 million copies worldwide. Legendary Entertainment’s Television and Digital Media division will produce Dead Rising: Watchtower. Zach Lipovsky (Leprechaun: Origins) directs the digital feature is written by Tim Carter (Mortal Kombat: Legacy), who will also produce with Tomas Harlan under their Contradiction Films banner. Take a look at the first poster, and stay tuned for more images and footage as we get closer to Dead Rising: Watchtower’s March 27 debut on Crackle.

Dead Rising: Watchtower will be released March 27th, 2015 and stars Rob Riggle, Virginia Madsen, Keegan Connor Tracy, Harley Morenstein, Aleks Paunovic, Jesse Metcalfe, Dennis Haysbert, Meghan Ory. The film is directed by Zach Lipovsky.

•• Sony Pictures Television’ streaming Crackle service has announced the air date for its movie based on Capcom’s Dead Rising series. Dead Rising: Watchtower will premiere on March 27th.

The film stars Rob Riggle (The Daily Show) as Frank West, alongside Jesse Metcalfe (John Tucker Must Die, Dallas), Meghan Ory (Once Upon a Time, Vampire High), Virginia Madsen (Sideways, The Number 23), and Dennis Haysbert (24, Wreck It Ralph). The film is written by Tim Carter (Sleeping Dogs).

While the movie will premiere first on Crackle, it will eventually arrive in physical format and via other digital services. Some of the video on demand distribution channels will be delivering Dead Rising: Watchtower as an episodic series instead of a feature-length film. An official plot summary for the film was also released:

“Dead Rising: Watchtower” takes place during a large-scale zombie outbreak. When a mandatory government vaccine fails to stop the infection from spreading, the four leads must evade infection while also pursuing the root of the epidemic, with all signs pointing to a government conspiracy. Politics, public paranoia, and media coverage play an important role in the story’s narrative.”

•• Screen Media Films has acquired North American rights to Michael Johnson’s All The Wilderness starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Virginia Madsen, Danny DeVito, Evan Ross and Isabelle Fuhrman.

The drama, previously titled The Wilderness Of James, premiered at SXSW and centres on a troubled youngstern who visits a mysterious city. Jonathan Schwartz and Andrea Sperling of Super Crispy Entertainment produced and Audrey and Zygi Wilf served as executive producers alongside Nick Frenkel and Glenn Howerton.

Screen Media Films brokered the deal with CAA and Lawrence Kopeikin of Morris Yorn on behalf of the filmmakers and plans a day-and-date theatrical and VOD release in February 2015.