From Birmingham to the U.S. Big Screen
Daniel Alexander’s feature film GALE: Yellow Brick Road is set to become one of the first Birmingham-made horror films to secure a nationwide U.S. theatrical release, screening in over American 1,000 cinemas.
Daniel Alexander has achieved a milestone seldom seen outside Hollywood, with his achievement marking a major breakthrough for UK independent film – especially in the Midlands.
The release makes Alexander one of the first Birmingham filmmakers to command a commercial U.S. release at this scale.
The film itself is a bold horror reimagining of The Wizard of Oz and will be distributed by Fathom Events, the international distributor behind global cinema events including Batman: The Killing Joke and the restored theatrical releases of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
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Gale first gained international attention through a self-produced concept trailer, written, directed and edited by Alexander, which demonstrated his vision for a darker reinterpretation of Oz. (Check out our review of Daniel's original concept film GALE here: https://www.midlandsmovies.com/midlands-review-of-gale).
Going viral, it amassed amassing over 5 million YouTube views and millions more across social media platforms. The global response rapidly accelerated industry interest and opened the door to this U.S. distribution.
The theatrical trailer later premiered exclusively with Entertainment Weekly, one of the world’s largest entertainment platforms, which described the film as "a world shaped by decay, memory and emotional fracture” as it explored the darker themes behind the project. Hundreds of fan reaction videos have since gone viral across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
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Alexander’s achievement lands at a significant moment for both the Midlands and the wider film industry. In an era where diversity and access remain central cultural conversations, Alexander is also one of the few Black British directors to secure a U.S. wide-release horror feature — and the first from Birmingham to do so.
For more than a decade, Alexander has played a central role in nurturing talent across the Midlands film community, helping young filmmakers gain experience, credits and industry pathways.
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And staying true to that mission, Gale enlisted students and first-time filmmakers across multiple departments, giving many their first professional cinema credit on an international film.
“In cities outside London, filmmaking can often feel invisible,” Alexander said. “I wanted to prove that our region isn’t just part of the conversation — it can lead it.”
Gale: Yellow Brick Road was written by Matthew R. Ford, produced by Tenisha White, and executive produced by Dane Petrali and Chilling Inc, a California-based production company.
The film will open in cinemas across the United States on February 11th, 2026, with tickets available via Fathom Events:
Find out more about Daniel's work at www.danielalexanderfilms.com
