Pierre Morel is one of my favorite directors, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in that regard. The 2010 thriller From Paris With Love drew some mixed reactions, but Taken was a huge hit in 2008, preceeded by the popular parkour action favorite, Banlieue 13, so I’m more privy to believe that Morel‘s next, The Gunman, will further draw some positive impressions.
To our good fortune, that day will come to North American theatergoers on February 20, 2015, following Open Road Films’ acquisition of the film’s U.S. rights from international sales agent, Studiocanal earlier this month. The film will also release in the U.K. the same day as North America, preceeded by its release in France on February 18, and subsequent release in Australia and New Zealand on the 19, with Germany opening the film on the 26.
Based on the 2002 novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette, Morel directs leading man Sean Penn who plays a special forces soldier suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), whose pursuit of a new life with his childhood sweetheart is stopped short when the organization he works for pulls him back in the field forcing him to trek from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name. The Gunman is written by Don MacPherson with a screenplay by Dredd helmer Pete Travis.
Penn is joined by Idris Elba, Ray Winstone and Javier Bardem, with Mark Rylance and actress Jasmine Trinca rounding out the cast.
Stay tuned for more information, including some more poster art and hopeful teaser footage.
H/T: Deadline