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MUZZLE: Aaron Eckhart Stars In New HFG Crime Thriller Launching At Upcoming EFM

Lee B. Golden III

Aaron Eckhart will star in Muzzle, the new thriller from director/producer John Stalberg Jr. (Lionsgate’s Crypto). The film is set to shoot in July from a script by Carlyle Eubank (Focus Features’ The Signal), and storied by Eubank and Stalberg Jr., with co-financing by Los Angeles-based sales company Highland Film Group who are also handling worldwide rights at the upcoming European Film Market. Muzzle centers on LAPD K-9 officer Jake Rosser (Eckhart), who has just witnessed the shocking murder of his dedicated partner by a mysterious assailant. As he investigates the shooter’s identity, he uncovers a vast conspiracy that has a chokehold on the city in this thrilling journey through the tangled streets of Los Angeles and the corrupt bureaucracy of the LAPD. “I feel lucky to work with such an immensely talented actor to bring this timely, thrilling story to life,” commented Stalberg, Jr. “I’ve never seen Aaron Eckhart strike a false […]

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DEN OF THIEVES Sequel Casts Up, Plots Spring Production Start

Lee B. Golden III

Some of the best news this month is coming right out of the European Film Market where deals are being made and casting is underway for numerous projects, developing or otherwise – namely the long awaited Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera, the long-awiated sequel to the inaugural hit 2018 heist thriller which starred Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The sequel was greeinlit a month after the film’s release with an official title etched in the following year. Christian Gudegast is returning to direct the sequel from his own script, with Deadline‘s Andreas Wiseman reporting the return of Jackson Jr. to his role from the first film opposite Butler, and confirming the return of actress Meadow Williams along with the addition of actor Swen Temmel (After), with Jackson also returning this time to produce. The plan is to commence principal photography late Spring in […]

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AMC Networks Acquires Distributor Sentai

Edward Orndorff

It was announced recently that Sentai Holdings, the distributor of primarily anime products in the west, has been acquired by AMC Networks. The company responsible for shows such as The Walking Dead and a wealth of networks and streaming services, did not disclose financial terms of the deal, but did share that it would include HIDIVE, the anime streaming service, and Cool Japan Fund, a public-private investment fund in Japan. “With strong industry relationships and access to key content creators in Japan, Sentai distributes and curates one of the anime industry’s most diverse libraries of top trending and classic titles, with its content available on Crunchyroll, Hulu and Amazon Prime, among others. Sentai’s HIDIVE streaming service represents a strong new addition to AMC Networks’ portfolio of fast-growing targeted offerings.” ~AMC Networks The founder of Sentai, John Ledford, as well as executives Griffin Vance and Paul Clinkscales, will remain in senior roles. […]

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THE INTERPRETER: Jake Gyllenhaal To Topline Action Thriller From Guy Ritchie

Lee B. Golden III

News fresh from the AFM ticker tape brings word of the casting of Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (The Guilty, Prisoners, Source Code, Jarhead) for The Gentlemen helmer Guy Ritchie’s latest action-thriller, The Interpreter. Filming is set to commence on January 10, 2022, on location in Spain, with Ritchie directing from a script he co-wrote with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies. In The Interpreter, Gyllenhaal will play Sergeant John Kinley, on his last tour of duty and teamed with Ahmed, a local interpreter, to survey the region. When their unit is ambushed on patrol, Kinley and Ahmed are the only survivors. With enemy combatants in pursuit, Ahmed risks his own life to carry an injured Kinley across miles of grueling terrain to safety. Back on U.S. soil, Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were not given passage to America as promised. Determined to protect his friend and repay his debt, Kinley […]

SILENT NIGHT: Mute Joel Kinnaman Action Thriller Signals John Woo’s Return To Hollywood

Lee B. Golden III

How’s this for ambitious? Legendary filmmaker John Woo is readying a Hollywood comeback with Silent Night, a literally dialogue-free action thriller starring Joel Kinnaman (The Suicide Squad). Deadline‘s AFM-attentive Mike Fleming Jr. broke the news and revealed the following: Sources tell Deadline the story is basic, as a normal father heads into the underworld to avenge his young son’s death. Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Christian Mercuri and Lori Tilkin are reportedly producing with Capstone’s Ruzanna Kegeyan overseeing the project with Joe Gatta. As Fleming Jr. reports, Capstone is in negotiations to finance. This is a big move for Woo in the years since he transitioned from directing hits like Hard Boiled, The Killer And Once A Thief, to riding out his prolific successes on films like Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off and Antoine Fuqua’s The Replacement Killers, among other titles that fizzled out during his reign stateside ’til 2003. At […]

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FORTRESS: First Look At Bruce Willis Action Thriller From Highland Film Group

Lee B. Golden III

Hailed as the first in a trilogy, the recent wrap of principal photography in Puerto Rico for action thriller, Fortress, is here to underscore its milestone with a first look photo to view above. Willis reunites with fellow Hard Kill cohort Jesse Metcalfe, with actor Chad Michael Murray also starring for the James Cullen Bressack-directed pic. The story revolves around a top-secret resort for retired U.S. intelligence officers. A group of criminals led by Balzary (Murray) breach the compound, hellbent on revenge on Robert (Willis), forcing the retired officer and his son (Metcalfe) to save the day. Fortress was written by Alan Horsnail, and is produced by Randall Emmett and George Furla, Luillo Ruiz and Chad A. Verdi, and is exec produced by Tim Sullivan, Nick D’Angelo, Caesar Richbow and Danny Chan. Highland Film Group is selling the pic internationally.

NEIL MARSHALL on the set of THE LAIR

THE LAIR: Neil Marshall’s New Action Horror Outlines Cast As Cameras Roll In Hungary

Lee B. Golden III

Principal Photography is already underway in Hungary for Dog Soldiers and The Reckoning helmer Neil Marshall’s new film, The Lair. Set to star in the film are Jonathan Howard (Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World, Skylines, Warner Bros.’ Godzilla King of Monsters), Charlotte Kirk (The Reckoning, Warner Bros.’ Oceans Eight), and Jamie Bamber (UMC’s “Battlestar Galactica,” Cinemax’s “Strike Back,” 20th Century Fox’s Money), from a script by Marshall who is also exec producing. The Lair centers on a command squad led by Sergeant Tom Hook, tasked with findinf Lt. Kate Sinclair, a downed Royal Air Force fighter pilot Afghanistan. Sinclair, pursued by insurgents, ﬁnds refuge in a long abandoned secret bunker and unwittingly releases a deadly man-made biological weapon – half human, half alien and hungry for human ﬂesh – the Ravagers. Hook and his team, accompanied by a handful of British SAS troops must save Sinclair from the insurgents, and […]

X VENGEANCE: JuJu Chan Szeto Leads Australian Action Thriller Shooting This Fall

Lee B. Golden III

Antony Szeto (Jackie Chan Presents: Wushu) will direct Aussie action thriller, X Vengeance. The film was announced over the weekend at the Cannes Marché du Film by Ken DuBow for US-based Access Entertainment. As Jeremy Kay’s report via Screen notes, the film marks an on-set reunion for the director actress and martial arts star JuJu Chan Szeto (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny). Their previous credits include Szeto’s Palace Of The Damned (2013) and Roger Corman’s Fist Of The Dragon (2014). Plot details are under wraps save for what Kay’s report states of the film’s setting which is in “north Queensland’s beaches and rainforests”. Also starring are Australian-Chinese actor Chris Pang (Crazy Rich Asians, Roger Corman’s Fist Of The Dragon) and Robert Mammone (The Condemned), with cameras set to roll this October ahead of a Spring 2022 rollout. Madd Films’ Tim Maddocks and Filmworks’ Janice Eymann are producing with […]

ANITA Official Teaser Reignites The Spark Ahead Of 2021 Release

Lee B. Golden III

Edko Films is backing Cold War co-helmer Longman Leung’s new biopic, Anita, based on the life and times of the late Hong Kong film, television and music sensation Anita Mui, who sadly passed away in 2003. Hong Kong model Louise Wong stars in the title role for the film’s theatrical release later this year, with Sony reportedly acquiring the film for release in several Asian territories according to reports out of Screen. This long-awaited biopic provides a vivid account of the remarkable life of Anita Mui in and behind the limelight, chronicling her journey from a child performer to becoming one of world’s most recognized music icons. The cast also includes Louis Koo, Gordon Lam, Malaysian actress Fish Liew and emerging actor Terrance Lau, all playing major roles key to the story of Mui’s influential life amid career trajectory. Invariably, much of that influence still remains with Anita producer Bill Kong […]

Gerard Butler Action Thriller CHASE Launches At Cannes For Voltage And CAA

Lee B. Golden III

Principal photography has since wrapped in Savannah, Georgia on action thriller, Chase, as of May, and with word out of Cannes that Voltage Pictures is repping international rights and will introduce to buyers immediately, with first-look footage to follow shortly. Voltage will co-rep US rights with CAA. Chase comes from director Brian Goodman (Black Butterfly, What Doesn’t Kill You) from a script by Marc Frydman (Black Butterfly), and stars Gerard Butler (Greenland, Angel Has Fallen, 300) as Will Spann, who pairs with the in-laws to engage the local Sheriff’s department in a frantic effort to find his missing wife, Lisa, when she disappears at a gas station without a trace. As the clock ticks, suspicion falls on Spann who must take matters into his own hands, plunging into the town’s criminal underbelly while running from the authorities in a race against time to find Lisa. The film also stars Jaimie Alexander […]

THE GOOD NEIGHBOR

THE GOOD NEIGHBOR Reveals Jonathan Rhys Meyers In A First Look From Stephan Rick’s Remake

Lee B. Golden III

Currently underway is principal photography for The Good Neigbor, director Stephan Rick’s English-language reincarnation of his own German 2011 thriller which has a new first look photo above. Highland Film Group is selling the film internationally with actors Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Luke Kleintank starring from a script Rick wrote with Ross Patridge. When the dead girl’s sister shows up to investigate, David, overcome with guilt, wonders if he can find redemption while Robert is determined to bury the past and keep his new friend for himself, no matter the cost. The Good Neighbor is being produced by Dean Altit (Misfits) and Yulia Zayceva (WarHunt). CAA is repping the film domestically.

Redbox Takes North America For Western Thriller, THE LAST SON

Lee B. Golden III

Donnybrook helmer Tim Sutton’s new western, The Last Son, is currently selling hard for multiple buyers via the Cannes market this week. The film, starring Sam Worthington, Colson Baker, Thomas Jane, and Heather Graham has since landed home at Redbox Entertainment for North American rights from sales agent VMI Worldwide; Other territories include France (Ace Entertainment), Italy (Blue Swan), German-speaking Europe (Constantin), Australia/New Zealand (Defiant Screen Entertainment), Middle East (Phoenicia Pictures International), and Africa, Benelux and Turkey (SPI International). Set in the Sierra Nevada in the late 19th century, THE LAST SON centers on Isaac LeMay (Worthington), a murderous outlaw cursed by a terrible prophecy, hunting down his offspring to prevent his own murder before targeting his son Cal (Baker). With bounty hunters and the enigmatic US Officer Solomon (Jane) on their tail, all are set on a collision course toward a brutal game of cat-and-mouse. Sutton directed the film on location in Montana last year […]

GASOLINE ALLEY First Look Features Devon Sawa, Bruce Willis And Luke Wilson In New Crime Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

The first official still is now online for Cosmic Sin helmer Edward Drake’s new action crime thriller, Gasoline Alley, starring Golden Globe winner Bruce Willis (Universal Pictures’ Glass, Twentieth Century Fox’s Die Hard franchise), Luke Wilson (Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, MGM’s Legally Blonde), Devon Sawa (Hunter Hunter, upcoming Black Friday). Highland Film Group has since hit the international sales floor at the Cannes market with word that principal photography has since wrapped in different locations across the United States. Jimmy Jayne (Sawa) is a bruised-fisted rockabilly boss-type sucked into a triple murder of three Hollywood starlets drowned in a luxury hotel pool. As the prime suspect for Homicide Detectives Freeman (Willis) and Vargas (Wilson), Jimmy takes up his own rogue investigation, bending the law in ways the police can’t in order to clear his name. With the killer skating through Jimmy’s shadow, he bands together with the two Detectives to dangerously expose a truth much bigger than they […]

SUPERCELL: Highland Unveils First Look At New Disaster Thriller Starring Alec Baldwin

Lee B. Golden III

Highland Film Group unveiled the first look at Herbert James Winterstern (NBC’s “Siberia”) new movie, Supercell. The film, which toplines Alec Baldwin from a script by Winterstern and co-writer Anna Elizabeth James (Deadly Illusions), just wrapped principal photography in Montana and Georgia in the U.S. from Short Porch Pictures and Thomasville Pictures. Supercell tells the thrilling tale of William (Daniel Diemer), a good-hearted teenager, who lives in hope of following in his father’s footsteps, the legendary storm chaser Bill Brody who was killed in action. His father’s legacy has been turned into a storm chasing tour business managed by the greedy and reckless owner Zane Rogers (Alec Baldwin). After William runs away from home, he teams up with his dad’s old partner Roy (Skeet Ulrich) and enters into the world of storm chasing. But the tornadoes have only gotten bigger. As his mother (Anne Heche) anxiously searches for her son, she’s joined by […]

Kiah Roache-Turner’s WYRMWOOD: APOCALYPSE Hits The Ground Running Ahead Of The Cannes Market With A New Still

Lee B. Golden III

The Wyrmwood franchise is back with another steaming pile of zombie violence and brooding spectacle with a new still out now from the latest feature installment, Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, which you can view above. The film is helmed by returning director Kiah Roache-Turner from a script he co-wrote with Tristan Roache-Turner, and with Arclight Films set to handle worldwide distribution rights for buyers at Cannes. In a zombie-infested Australian wasteland, soldier Rhys has dedicated his life to tracking and capturing survivors for the Surgeon General in hopes of finding a cure. But when he learns all is not as it seems, he must team up with Maxi, and siblings Brooke and Barry to race against the clock and save the one person who may be the key to ending the apocalypse. Wyrmwood: Apocalypse is the sequel to IFC Midnight’s Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014), which lit up crowds before audiences at […]

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THE DIVE: Survival Thriller Heads Up New Production/Sales Partnership For augenschein and Protagonist

Lee B. Golden III

Sophie Lowe and Louisa Krause are set to star in elevated survival thriller, The Dive, from rising German filmmaker Maximilian Erlenwein. Principal photography on will commence in mid-August on location in Malta and Germany. The official logline for The Dive reads as follows, according to augenschein: “A dive at one of the world’s most remote spots becomes a fight for survival for sisters Drew (25) and May (30), when rocks tumble into the sea after a landslide, trapping May in the deep. As their oxygen runs low, Drew is forced to make a decision on life and death all by herself, with no help in sight…” The film is the first to emerge in a new slate stemming from a partnership between augenschein Sales and production, finance and sales outfit Protagonist Pictures. The two firms will co-represent worldwide rights on The Dive, as well as future select feature film titles […]

THE ENFORCER Enlists Antonio Banderas To Star From Millenium Media

Lee B. Golden III

Anyone else up for another Antonio Banderas-led turn at the action genre? Take a gander at Richard Hughes’ The Enforcer, which launches sales for the virtual Cannes market this month from Millennium Media. Set in Miami, the story follows an enforcer who discovers his femme fatale boss has branched out into cybersex trafficking, putting a young runaway he has befriended at risk. The enforcer sets out to sacrifice everything to save the young girl from the deadly organisation he has spent his life building. Banderas, who joins Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg for Sony’s upcoming action adventure, Uncharted, will star from a script by W. Peter Iliff who penned both Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break and the 2015 reboot among other credits. As Screen Daily reports, “Rob Van Norden, Yariv Lerner, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, and Les Weldon of Millennium Media are producing alongside Natalie Burn of Born to Burn Films. […]

THE WRECK: ‘Skylines’ Director Tackles Shark Thriller Filming This Fall

Lee B. Golden III

Liam O’Donnell’s newest thriller is on deck for international sales at Altitude with survival pic, The Wreck. Principal photography will commence in Malta in September with O’Donnell directing from a script by Nick Saltrese (A Prayer Before Dawn) and with shark attack film veteran Mark Silk (47 Meters Down, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged) serving as DoP, according to Variety’s Naman Ramachandran. The Wreck “will follow a group of old college friends who reunite on a Caribbean scuba diving trip exploring the wreckage of a WWII battleship and find themselves trapped inside the underwater labyrinth of rusted metal surrounded by great white sharks.” Andrew Prendergast and Chris Reed (Jetski) are producing with Will Clarke, Andy Mayson and Mike Runagall exec producing for Altitude. O’Donnell said: “Who doesn’t want to explore a beautiful underwater shipwreck with smart, funny and gorgeous people as great white sharks try to tear them all to shreds? […]

Art Heist Thriller AMERICAN NIGHT Falls On Voltage This Month At Cannes

Lee B. Golden III

Voltage Pictures is dishing out a first look at American Night from writer/director Alessio Della Valle. The company, in its deal with ICM, has since acquired international rights to the art heist thriller starring Golden Globe-winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Elvis, “The Tudors”), Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Alpha Dog), Paz Vega (Rambo V, “The OA”), and Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”, The Kingdom, Sin City), which they will sell at the Cannes Market which launches on June 21. American Night follows Michael Rubino (Hirsch) who has just become the Don of the New York Mafia, but his greatest dream is to devote his life to painting and become a great artist. John Kaplan (Meyers), an art dealer, may feel like his life is in shambles, but he still has the best eye for spotting fakes in the world. Their paths, apparently distant, cross when Andy Warhol’s Pink […]

Horror Comedy VAL Debuts A First Look Photo Ahead Of The Cannes Market

Lee B. Golden III

Aaron Fradkin’s new horror comedy, Val, is scaring up some buzz on Wednesday with a first look photo which you can view below. The film, starring John Kapelos (Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy”), Kyle Howard (Paramount Pictures’ Orange County), SAG Award nominee Sufe Bradshaw (HBO’s “Veep,” Netflix’s Murder Mystery), Erik Griffin (Netflix’s The Sleepover), Misha Reeves (Electric Love), and Zachary Mooren (CBS’ “Criminal Minds”), and will have a release on digital through Epic’s horror shingle, Dread, on October 5. Epic will sell the film internationally at this year’s Marche Du Film. In this fun horror, FIN is a criminal on the run, wanted for the murder of his boss and the accidental shooting of an officer. He breaks into the home of a high-class escort, only to discover that you get more than you bargain for with VAL, short for “Valefar” – a demon who offers to make all his problems disappear if […]