EXCLUSIVE: Jason Statham (Fast & Furious) has been set to lead a new action-thriller from director Baltasar Kormákur (Everest), which Black Bear is launching this week for the Cannes market.
In the currently untitled pic, Statham will play Mason who lives in isolation in a remote Scottish island. When he rescues a young girl from the ocean in a terrible storm, he sets a chain of events in motion that brings a violent attack to his hideaway, forcing him back into the world to confront the ghosts of his past.
Principal photography is scheduled to commence in November in the UK and Iceland with production services and filming to take place at Kormákur’s RVK Studios facility in Reykjavik. Script comes from Ward Parry.
Producers include Statham (Levon’s Trade) for Punch Palace Productions, Kormákur for RVK Studios, John Friedberg (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) for Black Bear, and Jon Berg (Wonder Woman) and Greg Silverman, former President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production for Warner Bros., for Stampede Ventures, who developed the film. Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler will serve as executive producers for Black Bear.
Black Bear is introducing the film to buyers this week in Cannes and co-representing the U.S. rights alongside Range Select.
Action evergreen Statham is coming off The Beekeeper, directed by David Ayer, which has so far grossed $150M theatrical. He is currently reteaming with Ayer, shooting action-thriller Levon’s Trade, and is then scheduled to start production on Mutiny with Jean-Francois Richet for Mad River in September.
Acclaimed filmmaker Kormákur is known for movies including 2 Guns, Contraband, Everest and, most recently, Beast with Idris Elba. This summer, Touch will release for Focus Features.
Black Bear is set for a busy Cannes market, launching projects including David Michôd’s Christy Martin film starring Sydney Sweeney; Gregg Araki’s thriller, I Want Your Sex, starring Olivia Wilde; and bigh-budget Mahershala Ali-Tom Hardy thriller, 77 Blackout, from director Cary Joji Fukunaga and producer Charles Roven.
“The combination of Jason’s unparalleled skill in explosive action and track record in the genre, with Balt’s elevated, kinetic filmmaking style that always keeps character and story in the foreground is undeniable,” said Black Bear’s John Friedberg. “We’re thrilled to bring this new action franchise to life with such talented partners as Balt and Jason and can’t wait to introduce the world to Michael Mason.”
Statham is represented by Patrick Knapp.