Highland Film Group is proudly unveiling a first look at Spectre actor Christoph Waltz and Cooper Hoffman of Licorice Pizza in Old Guy, the new action comedy from director Simon West. Hoffman joined Shazam! Fury of the Gods actress Lucy Liu in casting announcements on Friday for the film which recently wrapped in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Waltz plays Danny Dolinski, an aging contract killer who still believes he’s the best at what he does. Stuck at a dead end but vying for the love of club manager Anata (Liu), Danny is thrilled when The Company pulls him back in the field, but only to train Gen Z newcomer Wihlborg (Hoffman), a prodigy assassin with an attitude. The mismatched pair is asked to eliminate top members of a competing crime syndicate and, in the process, uncover their employer’s true motive: removing the old guard in a full takeover. However, The Company didn’t anticipate that Danny’s experience coupled with the kid’s brilliance would create such an unlikely bond between the two, enabling them, with crucial help from Anata, to turn it all back on The Company.
Old Guy is produced by Jib Polhemus (The Last Son, The Expendables 2), Martin Brennan (One Way, Zone 414), West and R.U. Robot Studio’s Petr Jákl (Medieval, The Last Full Measure). Hal Sadoff (The Nice Guys, Orphan: First Kill) and Norman Golightly (Lord of War, Ghost Rider) will produce on behalf of Dark Castle Entertainment. The film is exec produced by R.U. Robot Studio’s Martin J. Barab and Blue Rider Pictures’ Walter Josten (Around the World in 80 Days, Holes). Hannah Leader and Frank DeMartini serve on the production legal team.
Old Guy was filmed on location in Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen. Highland is handling world sales at Cannes.
“We are delighted that rising young talent Cooper Hoffman and Lucy Liu are joining our cast opposite the phenomenal Christoph Waltz,” said Highland CEO Arianne Fraser.
“Waltz and Hoffman have great chemistry and will brilliantly capture the unlikely bond between the veteran contract killer and the plucky young upstart. And Liu perfectly embodies the role of the cool and stylish club owner who finds an unlikely connection with Waltz’s seasoned assassin in this compelling and action-packed story,” added Highland COO Delphine Perrier.
“Christoph has a very unique humor on screen which will perfectly fit into the story and will make his character exceptional,” noted Jákl.
Waltz is repped by CAA and Sloan, Offer, Weber and Dern. Liu, who will next appear in Red One for Amazon, is repped by Framework Entertainment, CAA, The Artist Partnership and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Hoffman, who stars in the upcoming Ethan Hawke-directed Wildcat, alongside Maya Hawke and Laura Linney is repped by CAA and Greenberg and Glusker.