A remake of Sylvester Stallone’s action classic “Cliffhanger” is currently in production, but the film will look much different from the package that was initially announced nearly 18 months ago.
Stallone will no longer star in the update, which was supposed to be directed by Ric Roman Waugh (“Greenland”) from a script by Mark Bianculli (“Hunters”). The creative overhaul means actress Lily James (The Iron Claw, Pam & Tommy) will take on the lead role. Pierce Brosnan will star in the film and Jaume Collet-Serra (“Carry-On,” “Non-Stop”) will direct. The project hails from Rocket Science in partnership with Thank You Pictures and Supernix.
Currently filming is taking place in Austria with a buzzing supporting cast, including: Neil Tiger Free (“Servant”, “The First Omen”), festival heartthrob Franz Rogowski (“Passages”), Shubham Saraf (“Shantaram”), Asad Bawab ( Franklin), Suzy Bemba (“Bad Things”) and Bruno Goiri, the rising star of the hit Netflix series “Emily in Paris.”
The new screenplay is based on a story by Anna Lily Amirpour. Those familiar with the project described it as a “Die Hard” film between a father and daughter.
Brosnan will play veteran mountaineer Ray Cooper, who runs a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with his daughter Sydney. During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s daughter Naomi (James), still haunted by a previous climbing accident, witnesses the attack and flees. To save her family, she must face her fears and fight to survive.
Thank You Pictures’ Lars Sylvest, Supernix’s Joe Neurwater, and Rocket Science’s Thorsten Schumacher will produce with Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe.
“Shooting our film on location in the Dolomites using large format cameras was essential for us to show the scope and scale of the story we are telling. We will give the audience a truly exciting and wonderful theatrical experience,” Serra said in a statement. “Lily in particular has gone above and beyond for this role.” , where I gave real training and learned to climb. Her dedication allowed us to capture some amazing shots that we could not have achieved otherwise, and she amazed the entire crew with her commitment.
“Cliffhanger” will follow a theatrical release with Rocket Science handling international sales and CAA Media Finance representing the North American and Chinese territories. Rocket Science has a partnership agreement with Studiocanal for the rights to the film.
Amirpour and Colette Serra are executive producers. Chance Wright of Wright Productions and Front Row Entertainment’s Gianluca Chacra and Hisham Elghanim are co-investors and executive producers. Joseph Brandmeier, Jeff Most, Katie Most and Matthew Steadman are executive producers of Level Field Media Finance. Philip Crozier is the executive producer of Supernix.
Proving the true collaborative nature of independent filmmaking are further executive producers: Kwesi Dixon and Jay Taylor of Electric Shadow as well as MTG and Rodrigo Tarazona; Robert Daley Jr. and David Lieber for Latigo Films; and Kevan Van Thompson for Capfilms. James herself will also executive produce through her Parodos Productions banner, alongside her partner Gala Gordon. Hungarian Hero Squared, Jonathan Halperyn and Daniel Kresmery are co-producing alongside Jazmyn Tanski.
James is represented by UTA, Tavistock Wood, Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Brosnan is repped by CAA, Viewpoint, Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Huberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaler, Gilman, Meigs and Fox. Collet-Serra is with LBI Entertainment, Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman.
Free with independent talent; Rogowski at CAA, B-Side Management, and Agentur Hobrig; Kumar of Insight Management & Production and Circle M+P; Boab from the Department of Arts and Media in Chalcot Square; Bemba and Gori were sold by United agents.