Magnet Releasing.
English-language revisits of foreign films can be hit or miss depending on your tastes. Anders Thomas Jensen’s 2020 Mads Mikkelsen headliner, Riders Of Justice, was nothing short of the former, featuring the actor in a riveting revenge tale that now appears to be getting redeveloped over at Lionsgate along with Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps, according to THR‘s Borys Kit.
Jensen co-wrote the original alongside Nikolaj Arcel for the story of a soldier who returns home to care for his teenage daughter following the death of her mother, a tragedy which he is then led to believe is foul play which ensues our hero’s quest for vengeance with the help of a discerning group of vigilantes. Sisse Graum, who produced the original via Zentropa with Sidsel Hybschmann, and Anders Kjaerhauge will exec produce, according to the report.
“There are few films that balance the action, emotion, and dark humor that Anders did so successfully in Riders of Justice,” said Erin Westerman, Lionsgate’s president of production. “We’re confident that the movie will translate perfectly to English-language audiences as well.”
The film has been widely reviewed and praised by critics since its Danish release nearly a year ago; our own Matthew Essary shared his thoughts accordingly back in May upon the film’s U.S. release from Magnolia Pictures’s genre shingle, Magnet Releasing, giving the film a 5/5 rating and scribing in part:
There are so many ways that RIDERS OF JUSTICE could have fallen apart. It tackles a heavy subject matter through the lens of both action and comedy, two genres not known for their subtlety. Yet through pitch-perfect performances and impeccable craft behind the camera- it delivers a poignant, thoughtful, and surprisingly funny film about coping with trauma- which just so happens to have some excellent action scenes in it as well. It’s a wonderfully unique mixture that only the team of Anders Thomas Jensen and Mads Mikkelsen could concoct. It’s also, to put it simply, one of the best films of the year.
My guess is it’s not too late to check out the original while you can. A director for the remake hasn’t been attached yet and is always a key metric for gauging how films like these will pan out. Stay tuned!