ASSASSINATION: New David Mamet Thriller Casts Up Ahead Of Cannes Market, Filming Starts This Fall
Cameras will roll on location in Vancouver this September for Assassination, a new thriller from director David Mamet (The Verdict, Wag The Dog, Redbelt). Arclight Films is launching sales for the pic at the Marché du Film which begins its annual event on Tuesday at Cannes.
Penned by Mamet and co-writer Nicholas Celozzi (Kickboxer: Vengeance, Kickboxer Retaliation), the 1963-set thriller centers on events that take place during a crucial justice hearing against organized crime, when the head of the Chicago mob orders the assassination of President John F. Kennedy Jr., creating a deadly conspiracy while altering the fate of a nation.
Academy Award-winner Al Pacino (The Irishman, The Devil’s Advocate), Academy Award-nominee Viggo Mortensen (Green Book, Eastern Promises), Academy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner John Travolta (Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty), Shia LaBeouf (Megaopolis, Honey Boy), Rebecca Pidgeon (Heist, Homicide) and singer/actress Courtney Love (The People vs. Larry Flynt) are set to star in the pic from a script by Mamet and co-scribe Nicholas Celozzi. Assassination also reunites Mamet with Academy Award-winning cinematographer Robert Elswitt (There Will Be Blood), who previously collaborated with Mamet on Heist (2001) and Redbelt (2008).
Corey Large (Paradise City, It Follows) and Celozzi are producing, with John Burnham exec producing next to Arclight Films’ Chairman Gary Hamilton and Pia Patatian, Jordan Nott, Bernie Gewissler and Amar Balaggan. 308 Enterprises is financing.
“It’s an honor to be working with all of these legends,” noted Large.
“With the undeniable talent of David Mamet at the helm and our stellar cast led by Viggo Mortensen, Al Pacino, Shia LaBeouf and John Travolta, the stars have truly aligned. Assassination is a riveting and gripping thriller set in a pivotal period in American history, brilliantly crafted by Mamet – it’s an absolutely fantastic project!” said Hamilton.
Arclight Films’ current slate of films also includes the comedy Arthur’s Whisky starring, celebrated Sundance title Fairyland, John Curran’s psychological thriller Mercy Road starring Luke Bracey, Russell Crowe’s Poker Face, and The Portable Door starring Christoph Waltz and Sam Neill.
Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
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