'Runaways' gets a release date

NEW YORK, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- "The Runaways," a 1970s-set film about an all-girl, teenage rock band, is to premiere at Utah's Sundance film festival, the movie's distributors announced.

The distribution company Apparition said it will open its Joan Jett bio-picture, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, in more than 1,400 theaters March 19 after it debuts at Sundance Jan. 24.

"The film follows two friends, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, as they rise from rebellious Southern California kids to rock stars of the now legendary group that paved the way for future generations of girl bands," Apparition said in a news release. "They fall under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley, who turns the group into an outrageous success and a family of misfits. With its tough-chick image and raw talent, the band quickly earns a name for itself -- and so do its two leads: Joan is the band's pure rock 'n' roll heart, while Cherie, with her Bowie-Bardot looks, is the sex kitten."

The film co-stars Michael Shannon, Danielle Riley Keough, Scout Taylor-Compton, Stella Maeve and Tatum O'Neal.