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Luke Hemsworth Actioner GUNNER Casts Morgan Freeman For Spring Shoot

New Dimitri Logothetis action thriller Gunner is casting up as of Thursday with the addition of Morgan Freeman according to a new news release. The Academy Award-winner whose credits partly include Million Dollar Baby and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, joins lead actor Luke Hemsworth with a script by Gary Scott Thompson (The Fast and The Furious). In Gunner, we follow Special Ops veteran Lee Gunner (Hemsworth) who takes his two sons on a fishing trip to reconnect. The trip soon turns awry when the boys stumble upon a massive drug-running operation and are kidnapped by Dobbs, the son of the gang’s kingpin Kendric Ryker (Freeman) who runs the organization from prison. With no one but himself to retaliate and with elite combat skills they won’t see coming, an enraged Gunner wreaks havoc to rescue his two sons from Ryker’s gang. You don’t cross Gunner! Logothetis, best known for shepherding two […]

THE RIKER’S GHOST Taps ‘Marlowe’ Duo For New Liam Neeson Prison Escape Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Fans of actor Liam Neeson are less than a week away from Briarcliff Entertainment’s release of Neil Jordan’s new crime thriller, Marlowe. In the meantime, you’re welcome to add The Riker’s Ghost which has both Neeson and Jordan reuniting once again with production set to commence in September. Starring from a script by Jordan and co-scribes Sean O’Keefe (Spenser Confidential), Brian Rudnick (Dungeons & Dragons), The Riker’s Ghost sees the Taken franchise star in the role of a convict set for release who is forced to break a terrorist out of prison when his lawyer is kidnapped, as he is the only one who knows a way out. The film further reunites Jordan, who is also credited for directing memorable titles like The Crying Game, Greta and Interview with a Vampire, and producer, Parallel Film’s Alan Moloney since working on Marlowe. Financing will be provided by Endurance Media whose Steve […]

87North’s BALLERINA OVERDRIVE Casts Up, Taps ‘Close’ And ‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ Director

Lee B. Golden III

Momentum is picking up for Born Of War and Close helmer Vicky Jewson’s Ballerina Overdrive, which is launching ahead of the EFM market with The Veterans repping international and CAA for domestic. The project is revving up as a hot action package at this point as Jewson, who recently directed The Witcher: Blood Origin, is being joined by Kelly McCormick, David Leitch and Annie Marter who will produce the pic via 87 North, the company behind action Kate, Bullet Train and Violent Night to name a few. What’s more is that Heidi and Renae Moneymaker, best known for their combined total experience of 144 film credits in stunt performance excellence, are tapped to design the film’s balletic action sequences according to Deadline’s Andreas Wiseman. Rounding out the current cast is Lena Headey, Yara Shahidi, Isabela Merced, Iris Apatow, Millicent Simmonds and Lana Condor, from Afterlife scribe Kate Freund “about a […]

JACKDAW Revs Up With A First Look At Jamie Childs’ New Motocross Action Crime Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Folks can currently get a first look at UK action thriller Jackdaw in the image above, directed by TV vet Jamie Childs (The Sandman, His Dark Materials). The pic is fully financed and repped by Anton for international sales this month at EFM, with a cast led by Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jenna Coleman. As Deadline’s Melanie Goodfellow reports, the Northern England-set thriller centers on “a former motocross champion and army veteran, now caring for his younger brother. Broke, he agrees to do an open water pick up of a mysterious illegal package in the North Sea. A resulting double cross and his brother’s disappearance set him and his old bike on a violent nocturnal odyssey through England’s northern rust belt.” Jackdaw also stars Thomas Turgoose, Allan Mustafa and Rory McCann, along with Vivienne Acheampong, Joe Blakemore and Leon Harrop. Childs is also producing next to Anton’s Sebastian Raybaud and Callum […]

Screenshot_20230126-144942_Samsung Internet

PLACE OF BONES: New Western Casts Tom Hopper, Heather Graham For Highland Sales At EFM

Lee B. Golden III

Heather Graham (Half Magic, The Hangover) and Tom Hopper (Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy,” Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard) will star in upcoming Western, Place Of Bones, along with UFC welterweight and mixed martial artist Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (The Equalizer 2, Netflix’s Spenser Confidential) and Corin Nemec (Showtime’s “Stargate SG-1,” Joe Baby, Run Hide Fight). Audrey Cummings (She Never Died, Netflix’s hit comedy-drama “Ginny & Georgia”) is directing from a script written by Richard Taylor. Eric Gozlan is producing under his Goldrush Entertainment banner, next to for Latigo Films which is also co-financing. David Lipper and Robert A. Daly Jr. Tom Whiteman is exec producing the film which recently wrapped in Los Angeles and will take to the European Film Market for world sales agent Highland Film Group. Set in the Wild West of 1876, a botched bank robbery sees vicious outlaw gang leader Bear John (Hopper) feverishly hunting down his traitorous accomplice, […]

GUNFIGHT AT RIO BRAVO Heads To North America From Shout! In 2023

Lee B. Golden III

Shout! Studios has acquired Gunfight At Rio Bravo, the new Western thriller from director Joe Cornet. The film stars and is produced by Alexander Nevsky, and also stars Cornet along with Matthias Hues, Olivier Gruner, Natalie Denise Sperl, Kerry Goodwin, and John Fallon. In Gunfight At Rio Bravo, Nevsky plays a mysterious Russian gunslinger who aids a marshal and a sheriff as they stand up to a bloodthirsty outlaw gang known as The Hellhounds who have invaded their small East Texas town. Cornet directs from a script by Craig Hamann, with Nevsky producing the film for Hollywood Storm, and ETA Films’ Eric Brenner and San Rafael Productions’ Cornet executive producing. “I’m really happy GUNFIGHT AT RIO BRAVO will be released in the U.S. by Shout! Factory. My western debut may have a lot of action, but it’s also a great story about friendship and the endless fight between good and evil,” said Nevsky. “I can’t wait for American audiences to watch it thanks to Shout! and Premiere.” “GUNFIGHT AT RIO BRAVO is […]

WARRIORS OF FUTURE Lands On Netflix In December, Leads Chinese-Language Drama Slate

Lee B. Golden III

What began as a sizzling hot proof of concept seven years ago as “Virtus”, director Ng Yuen Fai’s hit sci-fi action adventure, Warriors Of Future, has been acquired by Netflix for a December 2 release. The film stars Louis Koo, whose One Cool Film production banner led the charge in developing the project since its early inception. The film also stars Sean Lau, Carina Lau and Philip Keung, and is set in the year 2055 when Hong Kong assembles a heavily armed military unit to combat the onslaught set by a fast-growing alien vine that purifies Earth’s barren atmosphere while killing everything in its path, unraveling a deadly conspiracy. The film had been circulating teasers and trailers for several years now while on the market trail while reportedly delayed from a 2019 release to allow time for post-production. The film opened the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival back in […]

TRIGGER: Raven Banner Loads Up Richard Somes’ New Philippines Action Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

We Will Not Die Tonight helmer Richard Somes’ latest, Trigger, has found a new home for international sales representation with Raven Banner Entertainment as of this week. The company released a first look which you can view above, featuring actor Arjo Atayde as an ex-soldier-turned-security guard whose PTSD becomes the ultimate modifier when he’s forced to protect a woman on the lam from a corrupt police death squad. Trigger hails from Fusee’s Wilfredo C. Manalang who is producing with Somes via Strawdogs Studio Production, Nathan Studios’ Ria Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez, and Theo & Atlas Production Inc.’s Michaelangelo Masangkay and Fernando Henna. Also starring are Julia Montes, Sid Lucero and Kokoy De Santos. “We’re excited to bring a new kind of action film from the Philippines. There were a lot of action movies in the early part of our film history, but the country has shied away from them for […]

Jean-Claude Van Damme On WHAT’S MY NAME?, Says The Film ‘May Happen, May Not Happen’

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme nailed two film deals this week, one of which includes Darkness Of Man from Hot Seat and fortress helmer James Cullen. The two spoke to THR this week in an interview wherein author Alex Ritman asked about the status of Jeremy Zag’s What’s My Name?, the film which was set to be the 62-year-old action star’s final bow as of its announcement back in February out of EFM. “I want to make one more big martial arts film. But I guess it’s not the time right now. Before I believed in destiny, but now I believe in synchronicity. So if something doesn’t go my way, then it’s not supposed to go my way. So What’s My Name? may happen, may not happen. And I have another project that’s as good. But that’s for later. Right now, I’m so into Darkness of Man, which was always working in parallel” said […]

THE ISLAND: Michael Jai White Takes The Fight Home In A First Look At The New Action Crime Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Published November 2, 2022: MSR Media International is launching sales on The Island, with a first look still photo from the new action thriller above and now making the rounds. Shaun Paul Piccinino (Lionsgate’s American Fighter, Netflix’s That’s Amor and A California Christmas: City Lights) is directing the film based on an original story by Philippe Martinez, and scripted by Martinez and Michael Caissie. Starring Michael Jai White and Jackson Rathbone, The Island recounts the story of an LAPD officer who takes down drug traffickers with his wise-cracking partner until his brother dies under mysterious circumstances. He returns to his island home to seek answers, and ultimately vengeance, in a bloody battle with the corrupt tycoon who has taken over the island paradise. The film also stars Gillian White and Edoardo Costa. Producing are MSR Media’s Philippe Martinez and Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham. MSR Media first announced the film […]

ŚAKRA: Donnie Yen Is Unstoppable In Sales Art For The New Wuxia Epic

Lee B. Golden III

Action star Donnie Yen is back in the spotlight with Śakra, his sixth and latest directorial effort in nearly twenty years since the Barbara Wong co-helmer, Protégé de la Rose Noire. Currently in production, Yen’s return to Wuxia is based on Louis Cha’s 1960s novel, “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils”, which underwent several film and television adaptations dating back to the 70s. The new film marks the book’s fourth adaptation for the screen, joining him with mega-producer Wong Jing, who previous collaborated with the star on titles like Big Brother, Enter The Fat Dragon, Chasing The Dragon, and New Kung Fu Cult Master. Set in the Song Dynasty, Śakra sees Yen in the role of Qiao Feng “a tragic hero accused of killing his adoptive parents”. Feng is actually one of three protagonists in the original novel, so in terms of the general plot, this is all we have to work with […]

Liam Hemsworth Treks The LAND OF BAD In A First Look Photo From The New Action Adventure

Lee B. Golden III

Principal photography is already underway for Underwater and The Signal helmer Will Eubank’s Land Of Bad, with cameras currently rolling in Australia’s Gold Coast and South-East Queensland. Production on the new action thriller began in September with Eubank directing from a script he co-wrote with David Frigerio. Highland Film Group is repping international sales on the film which is now presenting a first look photo viewable above featuring actors Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth. The film sees the former Hemsworth in the role of Kinney, a green Air Force JTAC pilot who must work together with drone pilot Reaper (Russell Crowe), when a Delta Force mission in the South Philippines goes awry, ensuing an extraction effort that escalates into a full-scale battle. The film also stars Milo Ventimiglia, Ricky Whittle, Daniel MacPherson and Chika Ikogwe. Highland has locked distribution deals in key territories including Australia and New Zealand (Rialto Distribution), […]

BLOOD FOR DUST: Action Pic Sells To Multiple Territories Ahead Of November Shoot

Lee B. Golden III

Distribution deals in key international territories in all media have been locked for the new action thriller, Blood For Dust, as production revs up ahead of mid-November in Montana. Areas include 101 Films Distribution for the UK, Originals Factory for France, California Filmes for Latin America, Splendid Film GmbH for Germany, Daro Film Distribution for Eastern Europe, Filmfinity for South Africa, Spentzos Film for Greece, Blue Swan Entertainment for Italy and Eagle Films for the Middle East. Highland Film Group is representing international rights and UTA is co-representing domestic sales on the action pic which stars Scoot McNairy (Warner Bros.’s Argo, 20th Century Fox’s Gone Girl, Universal’s A Quiet Place Part II), Kit Harington (HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” Eternals) and Josh Lucas (20th Century Fox’s Ford v. Ferrari and Buena Vista’s Sweet Home Alabama). Rod Blackhurst (Netflix’s Amanda Knox, Peacock’s “John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise”) is directing from a […]

RUTHLESS: Dermot Mulroney Tapped To Headline Revenge Thriller From Art Camacho

Lee B. Golden III

Premiere Entertainment Group is launching sales at the American Film Market next month for Ruthless, a new revenge thriller from action veteran Art Camacho (Sci-Fighter, Wild League). Dermot Mulroney (RLJE Films’ Section 8, Amazon Prime series “Hanna”) is set to star from a script by Camacho and co-scribe James Dean Simington, with additional casting being finalized as cameras are set to roll next week Monday in Nevada. Mulroney will star as a high school coach “traumatized by the death of his daughter, who takes matters into his own hands by going after the men who kidnap one of his students for a sex trafficking operation.” Elias Axume is producing for Premiere with Al Bravo of Al Bravo Films. Premiere’s Carlos Rincon is exec producing next to Bryan Foster. Read more at Deadline.

MSR Media Announces Production Slate Including THE ISLAND, BLACK NOISE And More

Lee B. Golden III

MSR Media Producer Philippe Martinez announced today four new films in the company’s film production line-up on Monday, firstly with The Island, directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino (The Lackey, American Fighter), and is currently in post-production. Based on an original story by Philippe Martinez, and scripted by Martinez and Michael Caissie (The Hangman starring Al Pacino), The Island recounts the story of an LAPD officer (Michael Jai White) who takes down drug traffickers with his wisecracking partner Phil (Jackson Rathbone) until his brother dies under mysterious circumstances. He returns to his island home, to seek answers and ultimately vengeance, in a bloody battle with the corrupt tycoon who has taken over the island paradise. The film also stars Gillian White (Take Back) and Edoardo Costa (Live Free and Die Hard). Martinez and Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham produced the pic. Exec producers are Karinne Behr and Lee Beasley from MSR […]

BRAVE CITIZEN: Get A Kick Out Of The New South Korean Webtoon Adaption Coming In 2023

Lee B. Golden III

Variety’s Patrick Frater has a look at Brave Citizen, the latest film from director Park Jin-pyo (Voice Of A Murderer, You Are My Sunshine). Finecut is launching worldwide sales on the sidelines of this year’s film festivities at Busan, with OTT streaming service Content Wavve presenting the film ahead of its 2023 theatrical release. Starring Shin Hye-sun (Collectors) and Lee Jun-young (Love And Leashes), Brave Citizen centers on a former prospective boxer who has since set her sights on being a tenured high school teacher, ignoring troubling situations as often as possible. The logline continues as follows according to Frater: “Having witnessed intolerable violence, she dons a mask and throws her first punch for justice.” Brave Citizen is based on Kim Jung-hyun’s 2014 webtoon publication via Comico and Naver and adapted for the screen by Yeo Ji-na and Hyun Chung-yeol. The film is produced by StudioN with music by Dalpalan […]

SHIN ULTRAMAN: Sales Banner The Exchange Acquires Shinji Higuchi’s Hit Tokusatsu Revival

Lee B. Golden III

2022 has been a crucial year for moviegoers outside of the Far East and looking forward to catching Shinji Higuchi’s recent blockbuster hit Shin Ultraman, following its Japan release back in May. As of Monday, pat yourselves on the back for keeping up with the latest on the film’s movement with word via Leo Barraclough’s Variety exclusive that The Exchange has acquired sales rights for multiple territories on the pic and will sell to buyers this month at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival. Among the areas are North America, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand, to name a few. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, Toho and Khara, Shin Ultraman is the latest anniversarial revamp of the iconic Tsuburaya IP, 55 years since its creation now with Higuchi partnering once again with Hideaki Anno, who also penned the pic and served as one of the producers; The two previously collaborated […]

SHIN ULTRAMAN, THE KILLER, FULL STRIKE And More New And Classic Titles Heading Up The In-Person 2022 Edition Of The New York Asian Film Festival

Lee B. Golden III

The 20th edition of the New York Asian Film Festival is in full swing next month as a fully in-person event launching this July, after going virtual in 2020 and taking a hybrid route last year. The first wave of the festival’s full line-up is also now online with over 60 new and classic titles, including some exciting features that have arrived this year as well. “We’re thrilled to be back fully in person after two years, the best and only way to really have a festival, in my view,” said Samuel Jamier, Executive Director of NYAFF and President of the New York Asian Film Foundation. “We’ve been really impressed with the quality and diversity of films made during the trying times of the pandemic, and we’re especially excited that we can once again welcome guests from all over Asia to the stage at FLC, giving them the spotlight they […]

News Briefs: FAST X Adds Another, News On Eckhart’s THE BRICKLAYER And AMBUSH, OUR MAN FROM JERSEY Casts Up, UK Thriller LETTER GIRLS

Lee B. Golden III

• Rita Moreno is the latest to join Fast X, adding to the “Family”-themed spy saga of Fast And Furious films starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and new additions Alex Ritchson, Brie Larson and Jason Momoa. Louis Leterrier is directing for Universal. (The Wrap) • Renny Harlin’s The Bricklayer is going to Screen Media, featuring Aaron Eckhart, Nina Dobrev, Clifton Collins Jr. Tim Blake Nelson and Ilfenesh Hadera. The film centers on an ex-CIA operative forced to confront his checkered past amidst a growing international conspiracy that puts the U.S. in crosshairs. (Deadline) • In back-to-back reporting, Eckhart’s latest thriller out of Highland Film Group, Ambush, has landed multiple deals for release including in the UK. Also starring are Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Conor Paolo for the story of a military captain who must lead his commando unit through heavy enemy fire following a surprise attack while on a mission […]

BANDIT: Crime Thriller Starring Josh Duhamel Sells Multiple Territories Out Of Cannes

Lee B. Golden III

Gridlocked helmer Allan Ungar’s newest crime thriller, Bandit, has locked multiple distribution deals out of Cannes. Highland Film Group is repping international sales for the film which stars Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson, Elisha Cuthbert and Nestor Carbonell, and is in post-production. Inspired by the true story of ‘The Flying Bandit’ who successfully got away with 59 bank and jewelry heists, career criminal Robert Whiteman (Duhamel) escapes from a US prison and crosses the border into Canada where he assumes a new identity. After falling in love with Andrea (Cuthbert), he turns to robbing banks and discovers that he’s exceptionally good at it, flipping through different disguises at every heist across the country. Robert is addicted to the rush and money that fuels his double life, but turns to lifetime gangster Tommy (Gibson) for a bigger investment. Tommy convinces Robert there is more money in jewelry heists and drags him into […]