Principal photography has just begun on action thriller Black Lotus, according to production notices sent out on Friday. Todor Chapkanov (Viking Quest, Boyka: Undisputed 4, 2nd unit for The Hitman’s Bodyguard, The Expendables 4) will direct a cast headed up by Frank Grillo (The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Copshop, Boss Level) opposite eleven-time world Dutch kickboxing champion and lead actor Rico Verhoeven (Kickboxer: Retaliation, Netxlix series “Undercover”)
Penned by Tad Daggerhart (The Expendables 4), Black Lotus sees Verhoeven in the role of special forces officer Matteo Donner. After his best friend dies while on a joint mission, he roams the world struggling with guilt. Once back in Amsterdam, he ends up in a one-man war in the streets and on the canals of the city. Between explosions, flying bullets and crashing cars, Donner has only one goal: to rescue the kidnapped daughter of his dead friend.
Cameras are rolling in the Netherlands and will continue in several locations throughout Europe. Capstone Studios is co-financing with Christian Mercuri on board to produce, in association with Tom de Mol and Marcel de Block from The Netherlands, and in co-production with Verhoeven. Capstone’s Jason Carpenter will exec produce.
Blue Box International, a subsidiary of Capstone Global, is handling worldwide sales on the hot title and will introduce to buyers immediately.
Grillo and Verhoeven are joined by a decorated international cast including French actress Marie Dompnier (Black Box), Finnish “Vikings” star Paul Peter Franzen, Israeli actress Rona-Lee Shimon (Fauda), Swedish Magnus Samuelsson (The Last Kingdom), British actor Simon Wan (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Peaky Blinders), Belgian actor Kevin Janssens (Revenge) and well-known Danish actor Roland Møller (Atomic Blonde, The Commuter, Papillon).
Grillo is starring in the upcoming Lionsgate film Paradise Highway alongside Morgan Freeman and Juliette Binoche as well as the Ambi Pictures biopic Lamborghini (playing founder Ferruccio Lamborghini). The actor will also appear in upcoming thrillers Year 2, Hounds Of War and Hard Matter among a number of titles through next year which also lists King Of Killers, Lights Out and One Day As A Lion.
Grillo is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, 42West, and Paul Hastings