Eagerly Awaited 'McLaren' Documentary to Make U.S. Premiere in Indianapolis

“McLaren,” the incredible true story of motorsports legend and engineering visionary Bruce McLaren, will make its U.S. premiere in a special screening for motorsports VIPs on the eve of America's most iconic racing weekend.

Gunpowder & Sky Distribution, the award-winning, independent content sales and distribution division of global content studio Gunpowder & Sky, announced that it has acquired the U.S. rights to the film. The film’s rollout will continue with the U.S. Festival premiere in Michigan’s Henry Ford Big Screen Experience at Cinetopia Film Festival at 8 p.m. (ET) on June 2. Additional targeted events across the country are being planned throughout the summer, with the biopic’s digital release scheduled to launch after the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August.

Premiering less than 48 hours before the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil, the eagerly awaited film recounts the New Zealander’s life from his humble beginnings at his father’s auto shop in Auckland, to revolutionizing Formula 1 racing by becoming the youngest driver ever to win a Grand Prix, to his death at 32 in a racing accident. Featuring interviews from his closest friends and family members, the documentary is an unprecedented window into the life of a true genius. 

Directed by Roger Donaldson, “McLaren” was written by Matthew Metcalfe, Tim Woodhouse and James Brown, with Fraser Brown and Metcalfe producing. The film was made by General Film Corporation and Universal Pictures in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, Images & Sound, The Giltrap Group and FB Pictures, with funding through the New Zealand Government’s Screen Production Funding Grant and financing from the ANZ Bank.

“It’s an honor to tell Bruce McLaren’s story,” Metcalfe said. “Myself, my fellow producer, Fraser, Roger and the whole filmmaking team are excited to partner with Gunpowder & Sky to bring this tale of accomplishment and following your dreams to U.S. audiences.”

“Bruce McLaren is a legend in the automotive world,” said Jake Hanly, Gunpowder & Sky’s VP of Acquisitions. “Roger’s film paints a compelling portrait of not just the man, but also his outsized influence on Formula One and automotive culture as a whole – it’s a story of vision, audacity, and entrepreneurial grit.” 

The deal was negotiated by XYZ Films with Gunpowder & Sky Distribution planning a multiplatform release for the film. This deal completes the sale of the film’s rights across the globe. 

Outside of the U.S., McLaren will be released by Transmission Films in New Zealand and Australia, and by Universal Pictures in all other global territories. The film will be launched in the U.K. in late May.