Janelle Monae’s ‘Antebellum’ skipping U.S. theaters for VOD

Aug. 7 (UPI) — Horror film Antebellum, starring Janelle Monae, will be skipping a U.S. theatrical release and will instead be distributed through streaming services on Sept. 18.

The move comes as theaters in the United States remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was originally set to hit theaters on Aug. 21.

Antebellum will be available to stream through video-on-demand services for $19.99. Studio Lionsgate will release the film in select theaters internationally.

Antebellum, written and directed by Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, follows Monae as successful author Veronica, who is captured and sent back in time to the American south before the Civil War. Veronica is enslaved and fights to return home.

Marque Richardson, Eric Lange, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons, Tongayi Chirisa and Gabourey Sidibe also star.

“While we designed Antebellum to be consumed as a communal experience in the theater, we are thrilled by the unique opportunity we have to pivot to a different kind of communal moment in our culture,” Bush and Renz said in a statement.

“As we face the realities of systemic racism in our country, which have crescendoed to this current inflection point in 2020, we understand how imperative it is to bring Antebellum to the broadest audience possible, while also prioritizing health and safety. It is our ardent hope that by sharing our film widely, both nationally and internationally, we will transform the moviegoing experience from home into a true event.”

Janelle Monáe arrives at the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 8, 2009. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Patti LaBelle (L) and Monáe perform “Purple Rain'” during the tribute to Prince, who was presented a Lifetime Achievement award at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 27, 2010. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 13, 2011. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe entertains Carolinafest at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on September 3, 2012. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives at the Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 10, 2013. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe performs on stage during BET Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on June 30, 2013. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe performs on “Today” at Rockefeller Center in New York City on April 9, 2014. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Left to right, Jill Scott, Monáe and India.Arie perform onstage at the conclusion of the “Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life – An All-Star Grammy Salute” in Los Angeles on February 10, 2015. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe attends the 2015 Museum of Contemporary Arts gala presented by Louis Vuitton at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Los Angeles on May 30, 2015. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives on the red carpet at the CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City on June 1, 2015. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 15, 2016. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

President Barack Obama hugs his daughter Malia, after singing Happy Birthday to her, at the Fourth of July White House party, while Monáe (R) and singer Kendrick Lamar (L) react on July 4, 2016 in Washington, D.C. Pool photo by Aude Guerrucci/UPI | License Photo

Monáe attends the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on November 6, 2016. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives for the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2016. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe attends the Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on December 11, 2016. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe attends the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 8, 2017. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Cast members, left to right, Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris, director Barry Jenkins, Ashton Sanders, Monáe and Mahershala Ali of “Moonlight” won Best Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 8, 2017. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe (L) and Taraji P. Henson appear backstage with their award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for “Hidden Figures” during the the SAG Awards in Los Angeles on January 29, 2017. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Left to right, Octavia Spencer, Henson and Monáe appear backstage with their award for Outstanding Motion Picture for “Hidden Figures” during the NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, Calif., on February 11, 2017. Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives on the red carpet for the Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 26, 2017. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 28, 2018. Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI | License Photo

Monáe attends the premiere of “Annihilation” at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles on February 13, 2018. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe performs “Django Jane”/”I Like That” during the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 24, 2018. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives on the red carpet at the Billboard Women In Music on December 6, 2018 in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Monáe attends the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 6, 2019. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe arrives for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10, 2019. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Monáe attends Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles on March 23, 2019. Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo