Wicked Launches 'Wicked Noir' Imprint

LOS ANGELES — Wicked Pictures on Friday announced the launch of its new imprint Wicked Noir, dedicated to stylish crime dramas characterized by elements such as intricate plots, femme fatales, and stark lighting effects, tinged with cynicism and a certain devious appreciation for the darker corners of the human psyche. The brainchild of Wicked’s Head of Production Axel Braun, Wicked Noir debuts officially today on Wicked.com with the first scene from Duplicity, a feature produced by Braun and directed by fellow AVN Hall-of-Famer James Avalon, who will also serve as the lead director for the newly launched line. “Some of my all-time favorite mainstream movies are film noir,” said Braun, citing classic titles such as Touch of Evil, Double Indemnity, and Out of the Past, as well as neo-noir features like Body Heat, Mulholland Drive, and Chinatown, “and I’ve been wanting to work with James for a while. He is an exceptional filmmaker, a top-tier screenwriter and a phenomenal editor, so when I found out he shared my passion for this particular type of movies, I decided they would be a perfect fit for the Wicked brand.” “When Axel Braun asked me if I had any feature ideas I’ve been dying to shoot, I instantly said Hell Yes!” enthused Avalon.  “I told him I had a couple of film noir ideas I’ve been wanting to shoot for years, and he said, 'I love film noir, let’s do it!' And we did.” A multi-award-winning filmmaker with more than 300 titles under his belt, former editor of Adam Film World and a founding member of the X-Rated Critics Organization, James Avalon has long been one of the most respected directors in the industry, and yet he had never worked for Wicked until now. “I had always wanted to write and direct for Wicked Pictures, a company known for great stories, rich imagery, and intense eroticism, but somehow our paths never crossed,” offered Avalon. “I feel so honored to have finally had the chance to make a movie for this prestigious studio, and it was such a pleasure working with someone like Axel who has such a rich love of cinema and keen sense of film history.” “Duplicity is truly a fantastic movie,” said a visibly enthused Braun. “James wrote an incredible script, shot it with the kind of cinematic bravura you rarely see in the adult industry, and edited it with award-worthy gusto, while the cast delivered brilliant performances. Charles Dera is exceptionally charismatic, Evelyn Claire commands the screen as usual with her beauty and intensity, and Freya Parker as the lead is an absolute revelation! "I couldn’t be more proud of everybody involved, including old friends of mine like Steve Holmes who is as talented and professional an actor as he’s a performer, lighting director Shaun Rivera whose skills and vision are unmatched, Kylie Ireland who’s bar none the best art director in the industry, and last but not least the amazingly gifted Ralph Parfait who shared videography duties with Avalon himself.”   “Working with James Avalon is such a pleasure,” said Dera, winner of the 2019 Best Supporting Actor AVN Award. “There’s no one in the industry who carries such a peaceful vibe. James provides a serene environment where performers can be at their best, and I was honored to be chosen as the lead for this remarkable project.” “Duplicity had the longest script I’d ever been handed in my career,” said Parker. “It was so different, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of it. I had yet to be given such a complex role, and it allowed me to challenge myself and my abilities as far as acting goes. I adored working closely with the cast, many whom I’d never met before. It was such a special film to be involved with.” “I could not have asked for a better group of performers to be in this project,” said Avalon. “Evelyn has such a captivating mysterious aura to her. And Freya has such a keen tongue-n-cheek yet feisty vibe, definitely one of the most intriguing newcomers in the business. Both were my first choices for the leads, and they brought so much into the movie that it exceeded my expectations. And Charles Dera surprised us all with his powerful and intense performance. They are the source of the magic that I feel we created together for this film.”  “Wicked has always been synonymous with high-quality, story-driven features,” said Braun, who has been with the company since 2013 as a contract director and took on Head of Production duties in 2020 following the company’s sale to Gamma Entertainment. “Working with top-notch directors who are truly passionate about their projects and just love the filmmaking process is both a pleasure and a privilege, and I am thrilled to have James Avalon on board for this exciting series of movies that I’m sure will entice our fans with their suspenseful plots, their beautiful visuals, and of course their torrid sex scenes!”  Scene 1 from Duplicity is available now exclusively on Wicked.com