'Wardriver' by Rebecca Thomas '13 Heads to Theaters and Streaming This Month

Highly anticipated thriller Wardriver, directed by Rebecca Thomas '13, is set to release on March 20, 2026 in select theaters and on streaming on March 27 after a world premiere at the 2026 Cinequest Film Festival.

The film follows brilliant and tech-savvy thief Cole (Dane DeHaan), who roams a sprawling city in his car and uses a specialized skillset to commit high-tech robberies from his laptop, an illegal act known as Wardriving. When Oscar (Mamoudou Athie), a criminal, uncovers Cole's abilities, he forces him to hack the account of the young and seemingly wealthy Sarah (Sasha Calle), draining nearly a million dollars from her bank. As Cole falls in love with Sarah, he plans to restore the stolen money, protect her, and flee the scene of the crime together. Ignoring warning signs and blinded by his feelings, Cole finds himself pulled into a web of lies, deceit and betrayal.

“When I first read the script, I felt an immediate pulse—dark, obsessive, and intimate”, said Thomas. “It had that raw Taxi Driver energy I’ve always loved, and as someone who’s often pegged for female-driven narratives, I was excited to dive into a story centered on a morally gray male lead. I saw an opportunity to explore something unexpected: a character study built on restraint, guilt, and quiet delusion."

Cole’s character—a lonely figure justifying his actions with a Robin Hood ethos—reminded Thomas of her time as a Mormon missionary in Japan. “No one asked for Cole’s help, just like no one asked for mine. Looking back, I often wonder—who did I actually help, and who did I hurt?”

Thomas’s first feature, Electrik Children (2012), was her thesis project and premiered at the 2012 Berlin International Film Festival, landing a FIPRESCI award. She has also directed television including episodes of Stranger Things, Archive 81 and Limetown.