Lionsgate Premiere has announced it will release the specialty thriller The Gates in select theaters on March 13, 2026.
Written and directed by John Burr, the film stars Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, Keith Powers, and James Van Der Beek in a chilling story centered on race, power, and trust. The project marks Burr’s second feature following his supernatural debut Muse.
The Gates follows three college friends—Derek, Kevin, and Tyon—whose road trip takes a terrifying turn after they cut through a remote gated community. When the trio witnesses a murder, they find themselves trapped inside the walls, hunted by residents who quickly turn the blame on them. As tensions rise, their differing belief systems begin to fracture their bond, while Van Der Beek’s character emerges as the community’s charismatic yet sinister patriarch.
Burr describes the script as his most personal work to date, drawing inspiration from his own upbringing and experiences navigating identity and authority. “Trusting authority figures was a privilege,” Burr said, noting that the film explores how that privilege varies depending on perspective—using a propulsive thriller framework.
The film is produced by Nancy Leopardi, Ross Kohn, and Gary Glushon, with executive producers including Michael Cassutt, J. Todd Harris, Kamala Avila-Salmon, and Mason Gooding, among others. Physical production was overseen by Rebellium Films, with financing provided by TPC.
The Gates was filmed in Oklahoma with support from the Oklahoma Film & Music Incentive and the Cherokee Film Incentive.
