Josh Lucas (Ford v Ferrari, The Forever Purge) is set to star in The Black Demon, from director Adrian Grunberg (Rambo: Last Blood, Get the Gringo). Lucas will star from a script by Boise Esquerra (Austin Film Festival nominated “Blackwater”), with cameras set to roll in December 2021 on location in the Dominican Republic.
Pic hails from Javier Chapa of Mucho Mas Media, and Jon Silk of Silk Mass who are producing next to R.U. Robot’s Peter Jakl. Mucho Mas’ Phillip Braun, Simon Wise, Bruce Barshop, Vincent Cordero, and Highland Film Group’s Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier, Henry Winterstern are all exec producing, as will JJ Caruth of HFG’s domestic distribution shingle, The Avenue, and R.U. Robot’s Martin J. Barab.
Here is the logline: When oilman Paul Sturges (Lucas) takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul, the vibrant coastal town he and his wife once knew has mysteriously crumbled and the locals are nowhere to be found. Paul starts off his day with a routine visit to inspect his nearby oil rig, but before he knows it, his entire family has landed with him on the rotting metal tower. From the depths of the ocean rises a massive megalodon known only by its name: the Black Demon. Under constant threat from this ancient enemy of legend, Paul must find a way to get his family back to shore alive.
Both The Avenue and R.U. Robot are financing with co-financing and worldwide rights representation at next month’s AFM by Highland Film Group (HFG), with The Avenue, setting up a 2023 release in the U.S..
“Survival thrillers centered on the apex predator of the ocean have captivated audiences for generations, and to have this fresh take helmed by the action master Adrian and led by the incredibly talented Josh, makes The Black Demon a truly exciting project,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser. “We think audiences around the world will be excited to see this Mexican legend on the big screen for the first time,” added Mucho Mas’ Javier Chapa.
Adrian Grünberg is known for directing 20th Century Fox’s Get the Gringo starring Mel Gibson, which he also co-wrote with Gibson, and Lionsgate’s Rambo: Last Blood starring action megastar Sylvester Stallone.
Lucas is repped by WME, Liebman Entertainment and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof & Fishman. Grünberg is repped by A3 Artists Agency, Inclusion and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof & Fishman.
HFG’s current sales slate also includes Renny Harlin’s The Misfits, Allan Ungar’s Bandit, Stephan Rick’s The Good Neighbor, Avan Jogia’s Door Mouse and Andy Fickman’s One True Loves starring Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu.