Screen Media, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company, announced today the acquisition of Worldwide rights to the documentary The Mandela Effect: Fact or Fiction? The documentary, currently in production, is directed by veteran FOX Network and NBC Universal investigative producer Robert Kiviat, best known for his hit FOX network specials Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction? and UFOs: The Best Evidence Ever Caught on Tape. Screen Media is planning an April 2024 on-demand release. The deal was negotiated by Danny Grant on behalf of Screen Media.
The upcoming documentary explores the phenomenon in which masses of people have the same false memory. The phenomenon has exploded in popularity on YouTube and TikTok with close to a billion video views on the subject. The term originated in 2009 when many people said they clearly remembered news reports of Nelson Mandela dying in prison long before his actual death in 2013. The documentary explores evidence that could support why an estimated 50% of the population adamantly say they remember things from the past being different or inexplicably changed. The documentary will also delve into research findings that conclusively show people are not simply misremembering, as skeptics maintain.
“The Mandela Effect has made people want to know if history is being altered,” said director Robert Kiviat. “Whether it’s malicious advanced intelligence or even the result of computer code glitches in a simulation Elon Musk says he’s certain we all live in, our team looks into all the possible causes of this phenomenon.”
This acquisition by Screen Media joins recent pickups including Tom DeLonge’s directorial debut Monsters of California, Renny Harlin’s action film The Bricklayer starring Aaron Eckhart and Nina Dobrev from Millennium Films, Devil’s Peak starring Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton and Emmy winner Robin Wright and the Bella Thorne-led thriller Saint Clare also starring Ryan Phillippe and Rebecca DeMornay.
Have you ever experienced the Mandela Effect? Are you looking forward to the documentary next year? Sound off below in the comments or let us know over on Twitter.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
