Exclusive: Tom DeLonge releasing short film tied to ‘Poet Anderson’ franchise

Tom DeLonge is plotting a live-action short film to accompany his “Poet Anderson” franchise, the Angels & Airwaves frontman revealed to The Times.

Due for release later this year, the as-yet-untitled film stars Tyler Posey, Dylan Sprayberry, Taylor Spreitler and Samantha Logan.

Posey, best known for his starring role on MTV’s hit “Teen Wolf,” will play the titular character.

Conceived by the former Blink-182 guitarist, the Poet Anderson character is a lucid dreamer who can tunnel between the waking and dream worlds, an alternate universe created by mankind’s shared unconscious thoughts. “Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker” went on to win best animated film at the Toronto International Short Film Festival.

DeLonge’s short film, which he wrote and directed, has a completely separate plot line from its animated predecessor.

“[The upcoming film] is a brief and modest look into the mythology of the Poet Anderson universe. Meant to be a bit ambiguous and artistic, the plot traces the edge of a girl having recurring dreams of a boy at her school,” DeLonge said. “While the dreams are romantic, fun and adventurous, a real threat exists requiring someone there at all times to protect her.”

Ahead of the film’s release the musician will release “Poet Anderson … Of Nightmares,” the first of a planned trilogy of young-adult fiction on Oct. 6 (think “Harry Potter”-meets-”Star Wars”-meets-”Blade Runner”). DeLonge co-wrote the book with New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young.

Angels & Airwaves’ recently released EP ‘…Of Nightmares’ is a companion to the novel and portions of the EP will appear in the upcoming film alongside an original score overseen by DeLonge. The EP follows last year’s album “The Dream Walker,” also a tie-in to the Poet Anderson universe.

DeLonge will discuss the book and debut a scene from the film at the Grammy Museum during a special ticketed engagement on Oct. 13.

For more music news follow me on Twitter: @gerrickkennedy