DEEP WATER: Aaron Eckhart Toplines Renny Harlin Survival Thriller Launching In Berlin From Arclight
Actors Aaron Eckhart (The Bricklayer, The Dark Knight) and Sir Ben Kingsley (Spider In The Web, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) are tapped to star in Deep Water, a new epic survial thriller from director Renny Harlin lauching at EFM from Arclight Films.
Deep Water tells the adventurous tale of an eclectic group of international passengers whose plane, en route from LA to Shanghai, is forced to make an emergency landing in shark infested waters. The terrified group is forced to work together and overcome their differences if they hope to escape their sinking plane and the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.
Also attached are actors Molly Wright (Netflix’s True Spirit, Lionsgate’s upcoming The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Kelly Gale (Plane), along with Chinese singer and actor Li Wenhan (Youku’s “Hot Blood Academy” and IQIYI’s “The Flowers are Blooming”) and actress Nashi (Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms).
Announced last May, Deep Water hails from Simmons/Hamilton Production, the standalone banner launched in Cannes by founding Kiss band member Gene Simmons and Arclight Films Chair, Gary Hamilton. Production wrapped at the end of 2023 in New Zealand and Spain and is currently in post-production in Australia.
Arclight’s Ying Ye, Gabba Post’s Neal Kingston, Aristos Films’ Grant Bradley and Dale Bradley, and Nostromo Pictures’ Adrian Guerra and Xavier Parache are producers. Brian Beckmann and Ryan Hamilton from Arclight Films are exec producing with Vladimir Artemenko from Top Film Distribution, along with Rob Van Norden and Johanna Harlin.
“Deep Water offered me an epic canvas to work on, which I’ve dreamed of since seeing the original The Poseidon Adventure in a movie theater as a kid in Finland. My superb cast stood by my side valiantly through a rigorous shoot of barrel rolling planes, tidal waves of water and ferocious sharks. This film is my tribute to all the action, imagination, emotion and beauty that made movie making the first love of my life. I can’t wait to show the audiences around the world what an emotional rollercoaster we have created,” said director Harlin.
“Fortune has smiled on us and we are delighted to be working with some of the most talented and creative individuals in the world from New Zealand, Australia, and Spain. We have such a superb ensemble cast led by the talented Aaron Eckhart and Sir Ben Kingsley. With action maven Renny Harlin at the helm, Deep Water is a non-stop thrill ride for the ages, with depth, emotion…and sharks!” added Arclight Films Chairman Hamilton.
“I am pumped and excited to be launching Deep Water as our first project together with Gary Hamilton and the team at Arclight Films. Director Renny Harlin is bold and fearless and is truly in his element in this intense and suspenseful survival thriller – it’s a high-octane, seat-of-your-pants adventure that audiences love,” commented Simmons.
“We are honored to be partnering with such a strong team of international filmmakers. We have always focussed on producing commercially attractive projects with strong international appeal and Deep Water is an incredibly exciting film. We expect it to become a great action classic,” noted New Zealand producers Grant and Dale Bradley.
Arclight Films’ current slate of films includes Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada with Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli and Jacob Elordi; Stefan Ruzowitzky’s thriller Ice Fall starring Joel Kinnaman and Cara Jade Myers; Barry Levinson’s David Mamet-penned Assassination starring Viggo Mortensen, Al Pacino, Shia LaBeouf and John Travolta; and the comedy Arthur’s Whisky starring Academy Award-winner Diane Keaton, Patricia Hodge and the legendary Scottish singer/actress Lulu.
Eckhart is repped by CAA and Hirsch, Wallerstein, Hayum, Matlof & Fishman; Kingsley is repped by CAA, ITG and Rick Genow; Wright is repped by Crimson Media and Industry Entertainment.
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