Espionage Thriller, I AM PILGRIM, Starts Filming In 2016 With Matthew Vaughn Directing
Los Angeles, CA (September 29, 2015) – Matthew Vaughn (“Kingsman: The Secret Service,” “X-Men: First Class ”) has signed on to direct Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ (MGM) feature film adaptation of Terry Hayes’ international bestselling espionage thriller “I Am Pilgrim” it was announced today by Jonathan Glickman, MGM’s President, Motion Picture Group. Vaughn will also produce and co-finance through his Marv Films. Lloyd Braun is also producing through his Whalerock Industries with Andrew Mittman serving as executive producer. Hayes, former journalist and award-winning screenwriter (“Payback,” “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior” and “Dead Calm”) is adapting his novel for the screen. Production is scheduled to begin in 2016.
“Pilgrim” is the codename for a man who doesn’t exist. The adopted son of a wealthy American family, he once headed up a secret espionage unit for US intelligence. Now in anonymous retirement, he is called upon to lend his expertise to an unusual investigation but ultimately becomes caught in a terrifying race-against-time to save America from oblivion.
Beyond becoming a reader and bookseller favorite, I Am Pilgrim was THE summer thriller of 2014, appearing as a top choice in summer round-ups all over the country, hitting the New York Times Best Seller list, and spending four weeks as a Los Angeles Times bestseller. Translated in over 30 languages, the novel has also been a massive bestseller in the UK (where it was the bestselling debut of 2014 and has sold over 750,000 copies), as well as Holland, France, Spain, Japan and Scandinavia.
“We could not be more excited to have a consummate filmmaker like Matthew to bring I AM PILGRIM to the screen,” said Glickman. “His sensibility, coupled with Terry Hayes’ incredible story, gives us the ideal team to bring this character to the world wide audience.”
MGM will be in theaters next with “Spectre,” the 24th James Bond adventure, from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, which will be released in the UK on October 26 and in the US on November 6 as well as “Creed,” a new chapter in the “Rocky” story, from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema to be released on November 25. The studio has several films queued up for 2016 including “How To Be Single,” with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures on February 12, “Ben-Hur” with Paramount Pictures on February 26, “Barbershop 3” on April 15 with Warner Bros. Pictures and “Me Before You” on June 3 with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures. MGM recently wrapped production on “The Magnificent Seven,” which is set for release September 23, 2016 with Columbia Pictures.
MARV Films has produced and co-financed “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and the sequel to “Kingsman” which Matthew is currently writing and will direct next year; “Kickass” and “Kickass 2” starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson ; “The Debt” starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, and Tom Wilkinson; and “Eddie the Eagle” starring Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton. The film will be released in the Spring of 2016.
Vaughn is represented by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Ziffren Brittenham LLP. MGM’s Glickman and Matt Dines, Vice President, Production will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!