Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American and UK/IRE distribution rights to The Hater, a political comedy about a liberal environmentalist who loses her job on a U.S. Senate campaign and returns to her conservative Texas hometown to regroup. Upon learning her childhood nemesis is running for state legislature, she creates an elaborate scheme to go undercover as his opponent on the Republican ticket with the ultimate goal of forcing a Democratic victory. Vertical is planning a day-and-date release on March 18, 2022.

The Hater is written and directed by Joey Ally (Uproot, Are You Still Singing) who co-stars alongside Bruce Dern (Nebraska, The Hateful Eight), Meredith Hagner (Search Party, Palm Springs), D’Angelo Lacy (aka musical artist “Black Gatsby”), Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars, Ford v Ferrari), Ali Larter (The Last Victim, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter), and Nora Dunn (Together Together, The Lost Husband).

The film’s producers are Tory Lenosky, Adrienne Childress, Daniel Crown, and Angeline J Sanfilippo. Executive producers are John Boccardo, Derek Esplin, Yoni Liebling, Angeline J Sanfilippo, Anthony M Sanfilippo, Tim O’Shea, Davud Karbassioun, Joey Ally, TJ Williams, Jr. and Thomas Benski. Josie Azzam is the film’s editor, TJ Williams, Jr is director of photography, the music is by Benajamin Jaffe, and production design is by Susannah Honey.

Peter Jarowey and Tony Piantedosi negotiated the deal on behalf of Vertical Entertainment, while WME negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.