MSR Media’s Philippe Martinez has announced Black Ops, Assailant, 400 Bullets and G-Loc helmer Tom Paton’s Us or Them, a new action thriller which wrapped production in the islands of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.
While enjoying a luxury holiday won on a mobile game app, childhood best friends Jude (Jack Donnelly) and Andy (Wayne Gordon) agree to play another game despite the foreboding caveat that once the game begins, they must play to the end. Enticed by the $20 Million grand prize by a mysterious woman called The Officiator (Malin Åkerman), the duo signs up for a deadly round of “Us or Them,” where matching with your partner is critical and mutual trust is profoundly tested. As the game progresses, the penalties for disagreement escalate along with the prize money. The pair soon realize that failure to agree will have dire consequences not just for them, but also for their family members.
Martinez is producing for MSR Media alongside Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham, with MSR Media’s Karinne Behr and Lee Beasley, Sherborne Media’s Alastair Burlingham and Gary Raskin, and with Danny Chan and Jacob Katsman exec producing.
Also starring are Nicole Bartlett (director Rod McCall’s Jim), Celine Arden (MGM/UA’s The Hustle) and Sam Cassidy (Disney’s “Guilt”), with a script by Barlett.
Sherborne Media is providing production financing. MSR Media International is repping worldwide sales rights and launching sales Cannes market.
“Following his superb direction on Assailant, we are delighted to reteam with Tom Paton, a filmmaker who uses the idyllic settings of St Kitts and Nevis as the perfect counterpoint to his electrifying tale in Us or Them. I’m pleased that we were able to assemble a sterling cast headlined by Malin Åkerman, Jack Donnelly and Wayne Gordon whose proven talents in both dramatic and action sequences helped bring Nicole Bartlett’s chilling script to life.” said Martinez.
Malin Åkerman shot to stardom as Silk Spectre II in Warner Bros.’ Zack Snyder-directed Watchmen, and as Lara Axelrod on Showtime’s hit series “Billions”, as well as ABC’s “Trophy Wife” opposite Bradley Whitford and Marcia Gay Harden. Her credits also include A Week in Paradise alongside Donnelly, 20th Century Fox’s 27 Dresses, Couples Retreat, The Heartbreak Kid, Rock of Ages, and Warner Bros.’ Rampage, among many others. Donnelly’s credits further include BBC’s hit TV series “Atlantis”, CBS’ “House of Anubis”, Friendsgiving soccer mockumentary United We Fall. Gordon is a Jamaican-born actor who used his physical prowess to get such roles as Silva’s mercenary in Sony’s Skyfall and a stunt performer in Lionsgate’s Red 2. His credits include AMC’s hit martial arts steampunk series “Into The Badlands”, Martinez’s A Song to Kill For, Lionsgate’s Angel Has Fallen and Netflix’s Vikings Valhalla. Bartlett made her screen debut in director Rod McCall’s Jim. Cassidy’s television credits include appearances in AMC’s Sci-fi drama “Humans”, BBC’s family show “The Dumping Ground” and a recurring role on ABC’s crime mystery “Guilt”. Arden appeared in MGM’s crime comedy The Hustle and Danis Tanovic’s crime drama The Postcard Killings. Her numerous TV guest roles include Netflix’s hit romance “Bridgerton”, History Channel’s “Spy Wars”, SyFy’s action adventure “Krypton” and BBC’s drama “Doctors”.
Us or Them is the fifth film to be shot on the Island of Nevis following a multi-film program struck last year between MSR Media and the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis under the leadership of Hon. Prime Minister Timothy Harris, the Hon. Akilah Byron Nisbett, Minister of Health, ICT, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship and Talent Development, and the Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis.
MSR Media recently completed production on romantic comedies Christmas in the Caribbean and A Week in Paradise, comedy feature film One Year Off and Paton’s Assailant.
Under the production deal, the government of St Kitts and Nevis is offering access to multiple locations across the island and hotel support for visiting cast members.
In 2020, MSR Media successfully completed production of two movies shot during COVID restrictions in the UK – the family comedy Father Christmas is Back, starring Elizabeth Hurley, Kelsey Grammer, and John Cleese, and family adventure Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop, starring Nathalie Cox and Kelsey Grammer.