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GASOLINE ALLEY: Bruce Willis Reteams With ‘Cosmic Sin’ Director For New Crime Thriller

Edward Drake is set to reunite with Cosmic Sin star, Golden Globe winner Bruce Willis (Red, Red 2, Unbreakable, Glass) for Gasoline Alley, a new crime action-thriller shooting this month across the U.S.. Willis will be joined by Luke Wilson (Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, MGM’s Legally Blonde, DC’s Stargirl) and Devon Sawa (Hunter Hunter, upcoming Black Friday), with a script by Tom Sierchio (New York City International Film Festival winner The Girl Who Invented Kissing). Sawa will play Jimmy Jayne, 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 […]

SUPERCELL: Alec Baldwin Heads Disaster Action Thriller From Highland, Short Porch At EFM

Lee B. Golden III

Alec Baldwin (The Departed, Mission: Impossible franchise) is attached to star in Supercell, a new disaster action thriller that Herbert James Winterstern (NBC’s “Siberia”) will direct from a script by Winterstern & Anna Elizabeth James (Deadly Illusions). The film will serve as the launchpad for a non-exclusive first look output deal for Highland Film Group with Ryan Winterstern (Most Wanted, Inheritance) and Nathan Klingher (Zone 414, Becky) with their new startup, Short Porch Pictures. Supercell is an epic disaster movie that tells the tale of William, a good-hearted teenager, who always lived in hope of following in his father’s footsteps, the legendary storm chaser Bill Brody, killed by a massive super tornado. His father’s legacy has now been turned into a storm-chasing tourist business, managed by the greedy and reckless Zane Rogers (Alec Baldwin), who is now using William as the main attraction to lead a group of unsuspecting adventurers […]

Robert De Niro and Jack Huston in "Wash Me In The River"

WASH ME IN THE RIVER: Get A Glimpse Of Robert De Niro And Jack Huston In The New Action Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Director Randall Emmett (Midnight in the Switchgrass) is in the news with his new action thriller, Wash Me In The River, currently selling online for the EFM from Highland Film Group. The sales agent is offering a first look photo which you can view above, featuring two-time Academy Award Winner Robert DeNiro (The Irishman, Taxi Driver), and actor Jack Huston (American Hustle, Kill Your Darlings). A recovering opioid addict seeks revenge on the dealers responsible for selling the drugs that resulted in his fiancé’s death. Two cops are hot on his trail. Adam Taylor Barker and Chris Sivertson wrote the pic which just wrapped principal photography in Puerto Rico. Wash Me In The River also stars two-time Academy Award nominee John Malkovich (Deepwater Horizon, Being John Malkovich), and actor/recording artist, Quavo (FX’s “Atlanta,” ABC’s “Black-ish”).

PANAMA: Take Aim At Mel Gibson In A First Look At The New Action Thriller Selling At EFM

Lee B. Golden III

Hitting the virtual sales floor for Highland Film Group at EFM is Panama, from director Mark Neveldine (Crank, Gamer). The first official photo is out which you can above, featuring two-time Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson (Boss Level), who stars alongside Cole Hauser (Paramount’s Yellowstone) Inspired by true events from 1989 Panama, James Becker (Hauser), a rugged, decorated ex-marine, is sent undercover by his former commander Stark (Gibson) to execute a high-value deal with untrustworthy adversaries. While navigating through the chaos of the local civil war, Becker must fight assassins, court femmes fatales and negotiate with the enemy in order to complete his mission. With Stark always by his side, Becker perseveres against all odds in hopes of making it home alive. Daniel Adams (Roadside Attractions’ The Golden Boys) and William R. Barber wrote the script. Panama is Yale Productions film produced by Jordan Beckerman, Jordan Yale Levine, Michelle Chydzik […]

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THE REFUGE: Renny Harlin To Direct New Horror Thriller Launching EFM Sales For Highland

Lee B. Golden III

Highland Film Group is officially launching film sales at EFM for The Refuge, from director Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, The Legend Of Hercules). Casting efforts are currently underway for the new horror thriller which will commence principal photography in April in Bulgaria. Penned by action sci-fi writer Ben Sztajnkrycer, The Refuge hails from Revelations Entertainment and B2Y Production. Harlin is producing alongside Yariv Lerner (Hellboy, Rambo: Last Blood), Rob Van Norden (Olympus Has Fallen, Rambo: Last Blood), Gary Lucchesi (Underworld franchise, The Lincoln Lawyer), Michael McKay (Brahms: The Boy II), Lori McCreary (Invictus, CBS’ “Madam Secretary”). In this horror-thriller, Sergeant Rick Pedroni comes home to his wife Kate changed and dangerous after suffering an attack by a mysterious force during combat in Afghanistan. Officials say her husband suffered a heavy brain injury, but Kate knows it is more than PTSD. As Rick undergoes unsettling therapy with other traumatized […]

AMERICAN BADGER: Kirk Caouette’s Hitman Thriller Lands Canadian Release From Indiecan

Lee B. Golden III

Actor and stunt multi-hyphenate Kirk Caouette’s new film, American Badger, has been acquired by Indiecan Entertainment for its Canadian release according to Screendaily. News comes following our exclusive trailer and poster reveal upon its sales launch at the virtual American Film Market last November. Caouette, a 25-year stunt industry multi-hyphenate for film and TV, marks his third outing in the director’s chair for which Toronto-based Raven Banner now reps for international sales at this year’s virtual EFM. Featuring action sequences by Stanton Chong, Caouette stars along with Andrea Stefancikova and Michael Kopsa. Meet Badger, because his real name is Dean, and that’s the lamest ever for a hitman. Like all American Badgers, he prefers to be alone, and has hardly spoken a word to anyone except his Handler. But all that is about to change with his latest assignment – make friends with call girl Velvet, extract information about the […]

NIGHTSHOOTERS: Indiecan Nabs Long-Awaited UK Martial Arts Comedy Starring Jean-Paul Ly For North America

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a long time coming for Marc Price’s Nightshooters since its Raindance premiere and subsequent UK release a few years back, but word now brings that North American rights have landed at Canadian outlet, Indiecan for its release. Actor and rising fan favorite Jean-Paul Ly joins a headlining cast that lists Doug Allen, Wendy S. Glenn, Nick Aaron, Rosanna Hoult, Adam McNab and more for the rollicking story of a band of independent filmmakers forced to fight their way out of a condemned tower block one bustling night of filming after witnessing a gangland execution. The film also stars Nicky Evans, Kaitlyn Riordan, Richard Sandling, Mica Proctor and Karanja Yorke, and features signature fight choreography by Ly, best known for delivering the goods on thrillers like Cambodian milestone hit, Jailbreak and The Prey, as well as Ross Peacock’s new shortfilm hit, Acéré, with Law Plancel. Ly’s latest role can […]

ENTER THE DRAGONS: Jason Tobin Boards Action Comedy With Gemma Arterton

Lee B. Golden III

Oscar-nominated director Marjane Satrapi (Radioactive, Persepolis) will helm a UK shoot this summer for martial arts comedy, Enter The Dragons, according to Deadline‘s Tom Grater. The film will star upcoming The King’s Man actress Gemma Arterton. Most notably cast though, is the addition of actor Jason Tobin (pictured above), best known for his series as concupiscent, knife-wielding bad boy and Hop Wei heir-apparent, Young Jun in the hit Cinemax series, Warrior, which aired for two seasons through last year. That series is currently available on Digital and Blu-Ray wherever sold, as well as on HBO Max. Set in the small English town of Coalshaw in 1979, the film follows Gloria Grimshaw (Gemma Arterton). The most she can hope for from life is selling cosmetics and having a baby, but when the close-knit community of women come under threat, Gloria is forced to defend herself – by learning martial arts from […]

FIGHTER: Catch The Trailer For Jéro Yun’s Award-Winning Boxing Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Revving up to showcase for the 71st Berlinale next month, Hitchhiker helmer Jéro Yun’s new movie, Fighter, has already become a festival darling since premiering for Busan last year, and earning both the NETPAC award, as well as the Actress Of The Year. That title went to Lim Seong-mi who etches in a formidable notch as a leading lady this time following credits like Jeong Ka-young’s Cinema With You and Lee Ga-hong’s I Should Have Killed That Bastard. Fighter will soon go on to release in South Korea from March 18, and has a new trailer up to help stir interest. “I don’t have time to waste with fighting!” — “What do you mean, fighting? Jina…boxing is a sport.” After successfully escaping North Korea and spending months in a social inclusion facility, Jina moves into her new apartment in Seoul. However, the path to a self-determined life continues to challenge […]

News Briefs: BLACK ADAM Casts Up; Netflix Takes NEW GODS; Signature Steers Toward THE ICE ROAD; CONSTANTINE Revs Up From Bad Robot; Trailers For THE YIN YANG MASTER And S.A.S.: RED NOTICE

Lee B. Golden III

Jungle Cruise helmer Jaume Collet-Serra is reteaming with actor Dwayne Johnson for New Line/DC adaptation, Black Adam, and have recently cast actor Marwan Kenzari (The Old Guard) for an undisclosed role. Cameras are slated to roll in April in Atlanta, GA with Noah Centino, Aldis Hodge and Quintessa Swindell also starring. (THR) Netflix has acquired streaming rights outside China to Zhao Ji’s New Gods: Nezha Reborn following its local Lunar New Year holiday release. Based on the classic mythological text, “The Romance of the Gods”, the animated hit stars a voice cast that includes Yang Tianxiang, Xuan Xiaoming, Ling Zhenhe, Zhu Ke’er and Li Shimeng. (Deadline) Director Jonathan Hensleigh (The Punisher) is currently filming The Ice Road, a new thriller starring Liam Neeson and Lawrence Fishburne which was just acquired by Signature Entertainment for release in the UK and Ireland. The film is set in the far northern regions of […]

‘John Wick 3’ Actors Yayan Ruhian And Cecep Rahman Pair Up With ‘Maria’ Director For Mystery Project

Lee B. Golden III

The next and virtual EFM is set to launch on March 1, wherein you can expect tons of news on film development and acquisitions to arise. Nilalang and Maria director Pedring Lopez will especially be on hand for his own projects, including one that will finally see Indonesian action stalwarts Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian of The Raid franchise and John Wick 3 fame, together on set once more. Lopez took to social media on Wednesday to celebrate, although official title and any and all details about the project are currently under wraps until the announcements are made via EFM and trade news reports. “I’ve been working on this project in secret for a while, even during the pandemic.” Lopez tells Film Combat Syndicate. “You know what it is with Cecep and Yayan [laughs], but what they’re planning is brutal and bloody!” Rahman and Ruhian (also in tow for […]

YAKUZA PRINCESS Acquired By XYZ Films Ahead Of EFM 2021

Lee B. Golden III

Motorrad director Vicente Amorim’s new English-language actioner, Yakuza Princess, will be sold internationally at this year’s virtual European Film Market according to an exclusive at Variety. XYZ Films has acquired worldwide sales rights apart from Latin America on the pic which stars actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, with newcomer, Japanese-American singer and songwriter Masumi in the title role. Based on the graphic novel “Samurai Shiro” by Danilo Beyruth and set in the expansive Japanese community of Sao Paulo in Brazil — the largest Japanese diaspora in the world — “Yakuza Princess” turns on orphan Akemi (Masumi), who turns 21 and finds out she is the heiress to half of the Yakuza (Japanese crime syndicate) empire. The other half, however, wants her dead, and her one hope is an amnesiac gaijin (foreigner, played by Rhys Meyers) who awakes in hospital believing that an ancient sword ties their two fates together. The film also […]

THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN Launches Sales At Voltage

Lee B. Golden III

Writer/director David Midell (NightLights) is now poised for movement under international sales agent, Voltage Pictures, for his new film, The Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain. The film made its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival in 2019, starring Frankie Faison (Do the Right Thing, Silence of the Lambs, Banshee) in the title role, based on the real-life police-involed incident that took place on November 19, 2011 in White Plains, New York. The film’s acquisition was announced by Vertical President and COO Jonathan Decker, in partnership with Revelation Entertainment. Midell is producing along with Enrico Natale of Redbird Entertainment, with Revelation’s Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary and Gary Lucchesi, next to Sharad Chib, Chris Paladino, and Milan Chakraborty. Voltage will begin talks on the hot title, with buyers immediately. The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain tells the true story of the final hours of the life of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African […]

News Briefs: Nesson’s EL DESCONOCIDO Remake; PANAMA Adds Two; Sanada Boards BULLET TRAIN; Universal Sets VAN HELSING Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

This month, efforts toward Liam Neeson actioner, Retribution have taken years to formulate but the project has officially attached Predators helmer Nimrod Antal to direct. A remake of Dani de la Torre’s El Desconocido (2015), Retribution centers on a bank executive forced to complete a series of tasks whilst trapped in his car with his children, lest the captor holding them hostage via phone detonates the bomb in his car. Jaume Collet-Serra and Juan Sola at Ombra Films and Andrew Rona and Alex Heinemann at The Picture Company are producing the pic which rolls cameras from next March through June. Studiocanal reportedly sold the film in a raft of territories worldwide following AFM. Actor Cole Hauser is starring alongside Mel Gibson and Kate Katzman for action thriller, Panama, which will shoot in Puerto Rico. The Mark Neveldine-directed pic has added Charlie Weber and Victor Turpin to star from a script […]

400 BULLETS: Take Aim At The Official Sales Art For The New Jean-Paul Ly Action Thriller Coming In 2021

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a grand minute since we’ve given some lip service here to actor and martial artist Jean-Paul Ly. He’s worked both sides of the lens from shortfilms like Dead End and Law Plancel’s The Division, to stunt work in TV and film including Marvel’s Doctor Strange and Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, his biggest breaks thusfar have been the successes he’s had on the feature front with Jimmy Henderson’s Jailbreak, and Marc Price’s Nightshooters to name a few. That list now grows a little more with National Film Award Winning and Frightfest favorite, director Tom Paton (Pandorica, Redwood, Black Site) whose sixth film now draws near in the form of military action thriller, 400 Bullets, now aiming for an early 2021 release. Production really played this one close to the chest as very little info was allowed to spill out when we first posted last November, but now we’ve been […]

AMBUSH: Jonathan Rhys Meyers And Connor Paolo Join Aaron Eckhart Action Thriller From Mark Earl Burman

Lee B. Golden III

Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The 12th Man, History Channel’s “Vikings,” Showtime’s “The Tudors”) and Connor Paolo (Stake Land, Friend Request, ABC’s “Revenge”) will join Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, Line of Duty) and Jason Genao (Logan, Netflix’s The Get Down) in the upcoming action thriller Ambush. Mark Earl Burman (Dog Eat Dog) is directing the film from a script he’s written with Michael McClung (American Martyr). The film is “based on the exhilarating true story of a deadly high-stakes subterranean mission into enemy controlled territory”, and follows a group of young elite commandos, led by Captain Drummond (Eckhart), tasked with collecting highly classified information that can change the fate of the war. On the edge of the jungle, the team is attacked by the overwhelming invisible force of the enemy army. Drummond’s young team must overcome their apprehension in order to pursue the force into the complex labyrinth of Cu Chi […]

THE DEVIL TO PAY: Danielle Deadwyler Starrer Heads To AFM Under Arclight

Lee B. Golden III

Becky scribes Lane and Ruckus Skye’s The Devil To Pay is being shopped at the virtual AFM this week under the Arclight banner, who were introduced to the pic initially by Gary Bradley. The film was released last month in the U.S. from Uncork’d Entertainment and Dark Star Pictures, and stars Danielle Deadwyler, Catherine Dyer and Jayson Warner Smith, and was announced officially by Arclight chairman Gary Hamilton. After the disappearance of her husband, a struggling farmer in an isolated Appalachian community fights to save her son when the cold-hearted matriarch of the oldest family on the mountain demands payment of a debt that could destroy a decade’s old truce. Lane Skye and Ruckus Skye wrote and directed the film marking their feature debut at the helm. They also produced the pic alongside Deadwyler, and with Martin L. Kelley, Allison Maier, and Gabriel Olson. “Danielle is a formidable talent, leading […]

NIGHT HAS FALLEN Sees Butler, ‘Fallen’ Franchise Reteam For Fourth Installment

Lee B. Golden III

Indeed, Millenium Media will ‘fall’ even further with a fourth installment into their Fallen franchise with Greenland star Gerard Butler headlining Night Has Fallen. The actor will also reteam with Angel Has Fallen director Ric Roman Waugh back at the helm with Robert Mark Kamen penning the script. Butler will also produce with Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner and Alan Siegel, with Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson, Millennium Media president Jeffrey Greenstein and Jonathan Yunger exec producing. The film will shoot at Millennium Media’s Nu Boyana Studios in Sofia, Bulgaria and throughout Europe, according to the report. The franchise launched in 2013 under Antoine Fuqua’s direction for Olympus Has Fallen, followed by Babak Najafi’s London Has Fallen, and Ric Roman Waugh’s Angel Has Fallen. The trilogy, in sum, sees Butler in the role of Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, battling terroristic threats from enemies invading the White House to mercs […]

ZEROS AND ONES: Ethan Hawke Headlines Post-Modern Wartime Thriller Shopping At AFM 2020

Lee B. Golden III

Post-modern wartime thirller, Zeros And Ones, has added four-time Academy Award nominated actor and filmmaker Ethan Hawke (First Reformed, Boyhood) to headline the cast for director Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant, The Funeral, Kings Of New York). Ferrara wrote the script which sees Hawke in the role of JJ, an American soldier stationed in a Rome under siege, locked down, and at war. The Vatican being blown into the night sky is only the beginning of our hero’s journey to uncover and defend against an unknown enemy but threatening the lives of the entire world. Rounding out the roster are Cristina Chiriac (Siberia, Tommaso) and Phil Neilson (Siberia, Ben-Hur) with Christian Mercuri’s Capstone Group launching sales at AFM this week under its Blue Box International label and co-repping domestic with CAA Media Finance. Ferrara begins shooting in Italy later this month. The film also reunites Ferrara with Diana Phillips (Bad Lieutenant, […]

THE JOURNEYMAN: Michael Bisping To Star In Dax Phelan’s Novel Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

Retired MMA champion Michael Bisping’s film career is taking the next step following starring credits in Den Of Thieves, Triple Threat and xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage. Dax Phelan will set sail for the UK to direct The Journeyman, based on author Mark Turley’s novel, “Journeymen: The Other Side of the Boxing Business, a New Perspective on the Noble Art”. Phelan and Turley both adapted the screenplay. Deadline’s Tom Grater reports: “Bisping will play Kenny ‘The Beast’ Breen, an alcoholic, drug-abusing, past-his-prime journeyman boxer with a record of 11-85-0 who, after being diagnosed with neurological damage, continues his career on the small-hall circuit at grave risk to himself.” LHCo Distribution Liaison will be hosting the project for this month’s virtual AFM to find a UK producing partner. Phelan will produce with Eric M. Klein, with Bisping and Turley exec producing, and with real-life journeyman boxer Johnny Greaves serving as […]