We’re a ways from anything Avatar right now, so I reckon something a little more grounded will make for a nice change of pace. It’s the new film, The Hunter’s Prayer, announced in 2014 and now the latest prospect of Saban Films with events now underway at TIFF in Toronto this week.
Read on!
TORONTO – September 9, 2016 – Saban Films announced that they have acquired US distribution rights to The Hunter’s Prayer, directed by Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) and starring Sam Worthington (Avatar, Clash of the Titans) and newcomer Odeya Rush (The Giver, Goosebumps). John Brancato and Michael Ferris (The Game) adapted the action-thriller from Kevin Wignall’s critically acclaimed novel, For the Dogs.
The Hunter’s Prayer follows Lucas (Worthington), a solitary assassin, hired to kill a young woman, Ella, (Rush), who is unaware that her family’s questionable business dealings have cost them their lives. However, when Lucas can’t bring himself to pull the trigger, the two form a bond and escape across Europe together, hunted by those responsible for her family’s murder.
“The Hunter’s Prayer is a global adventure, with the talented Sam alongside one of the hottest up-and-comers Odeya,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “The film is action packed and we are thrilled to be sharing this story, molded by such a dynamic and tense on-screen chemistry.”
The film is produced by Navid McIlhargey for Vandal Entertainment and Anthony Rhulen for Film Engine, Chris Milburn for Midsummer Films, John Schwarz, Michael Schwarz & Sam Worthington for Full Clip; Tove Christensen and Michael Wexler for Maple Leaf Films; Juan Garcia Peredo for Elipsis Capital, and Jimmy Costas, Paul Rock and Paul Leyden. Executive Producers include Gavin Poolman from Apollo Media and Duncan Reid for the Ingenious Senior Film Fund, Hugo Heppell for Screen Yorkshire, and Norman Merry and Peter Hampden for LipSync Productions, IIdiko Kemeny, David Minkowski, Jack L. Murray.
Bill Bromiley and Ness Saban negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban Films. WME Global co-represented US rights with CAA, and with Sierra/Affinity handling international rights.
Yesterday, Saban Films announced it acquired Sean Penn’s The Last Face starring Penn, Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem. The slate also includes: Zack Weldon’s feature debut Come and Find Me starring Emmy Award Winner Aaron Paul and Annabelle Wallis; Walter Hill’s (Re) Assignment, which will make its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, starring Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia; Rob Zombie’s 31; Colm McCarthy’s apocalyptic thriller The Girl with All the Gifts making its North American Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and starring six-time Academy Award Winner Glenn Close, Gemma Arterton and Paddy Considine; and John Michael McDonagh’s War on Everyone starring Michael Peña, Alexander Skarsgård, Theo James, and Tessa Thompson.
Since the company’s launch in 2014, Saban Films has released The Homesman starring Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank; Tracers starring Taylor Lautner; Philip Martin’s The Forger starring John Travolta; American Heist starring Hayden Christensen and Adrien Brody; Some Kind of Beautiful starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba; Man Up starring Simon Pegg and Lake Bell; MI-5 starring Kit Harington; Alex and Benjamin Brewer’s The Trust starring Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood; Tom Tykwer’s A Hologram for the King starring Tom Hanks; sci-fi horror film Cell starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson; I Am Wrath with John Travolta, and Renny Harlin’s action comedy Skiptrace, starring Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville.