Vertical Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights to Morena Baccarin’s Action Thriller “Fast Charlie”

Morena Baccarin’s latest project will be heading into U.S. theaters…

Vertical has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the action thriller Fast Charlie, starring the 44-year-old Brazilian actress and James Caan in his final film, ahead of its October 7th world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

Morena BaccarinCaan died in Los Angeles in July 2022, aged 82, following a decorated career of six decades.

The film also stars Pierce Brosnan.

Specifics as to release plans for his last project, based on the 2001 novel Gun Monkeys, haven’t been disclosed.

Brosnan’s character in the film, financed by Ashland Hill, is Charlie Swift, aka “Fast Charlie,” the consummate fixer with a problem: the target he’s just whacked is missing his head. Unfortunately, the only way for him to get paid is to prove it’s the intended target to the man who paid for the hit — New Orleans’ most ruthless mobster, Beggar Mercado (Gbenga Akinnagbe). Charlie looks to do so by enlisting the help of Marcie Kramer (Baccarin), the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with the backbone and skillset he desperately needs. Dragging Marcie back into a past she was determined to escape sends the pair on a wild and unpredictable odyssey, and throughout their escapades, they fight to protect the legacy of Charlie’s best friend and mentor, Stan Mullen (Caan), while bringing down Beggar and his entire operation.

Phillip Noyce directed from a script by Richard Wenk, with Toby Huss and Sharon Gless rounding out the cast.

Said producer Daniel Grodnik of the film, “Richard Wenk’s adaptation of Victor Gischler’s thriller novel, Gun Monkeys, coupled with Phillip Noyce’s keen direction, brings us into a fast-paced world where loyalty, commitment, and doing what’s right still matter. The relationship between Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin is as surprising for them as it is for the audience which makes for a lot of fun.”

In discussing the film’s appeal, Vertical partner Peter Jarowey stated that “Phillip has delivered a crisp, swift thriller with heart that showcases Brosnan and Baccarin’s chemistry delivering performances that seamlessly flow between action, thrills and drama with a good measure of humor weaved throughout to give audiences an exceptionally satisfying experience.”

Morena Baccarin to Star in Hitman Thriller “Fast Charlie”

Morena Baccarin is movin’ Fast

The 42-year-old Brazilian actress will star opposite James Caan and Pierce Brosnan in hitman thriller Fast Charlie, to be directed by Phillip Noyce.

Filming is due to get underway in New Orleans next week.

Brosnan will play Charlie Swift who has worked for his ageing mob boss Stan (Caan) for twenty years, skillfully operating as a prolific fixer and efficient hitman. When a rival boss moves to eliminate Stan and his entire team, he fails in wiping the team clean. Now on his own, Charlie will stop at nothing to avenge his friend and has no plans to leave anyone alive.

Baccarin is set to play the female lead Marcie, the ex-wife of a mobster killed by Charlie, who forms an unexpected pairing with Charlie in his revenge against the rival mob.

The original screenplay is written by Richard Wenk, inspired by the novel Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler. Daniel Grodnik and Mitchell Welch will produce.

Foresight is handling international sales and parent company Screen Media is distributing in the U.S.

Director Noyce commented on the casting: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have James Caan and Morena Baccarin aboard. I can’t imagine a more perfect pair than Morena and Pierce. Not to be cute, but they really do make a killer couple.”

Producer Daniel Grodnik added: “I brought Phillip to America in 1988 to direct Blind Fury with Rutger Hauer and now 34 years later I’m thrilled to be back on the set with him. With a great script by Richard Wenk, and Pierce bringing his star power to the role of Charlie, alongside the legendary, James Caan, and the multi-talented Morena Baccarin, Phillip has a vision that will craft a seminal and iconic film to entertain audiences worldwide.”

Sigler to Star in Fox’s Hybrid Pilot “Fantasy Life”

It’s a sweet, sweet fantasy for Jamie-Lynn Sigler

The 33-year-old half-Cuban American actress has joined the ensemble cast of Fox’s multi-camera/hybrid pilot Fantasy Life.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler

The former The Sopranos actress will co-star opposite Kevin Connolly, Vanessa Williams, and James Caan .

Based on the memoir by one of U.S.’ top fantasy experts, ESPN’s Matthew Berry, the project was written by Tim McAuliffe.

When hard-working Mitch (Connolly) lands his ultimate dream job hosting a fantasy football show, he’s forced to navigate office politics while becoming the star he never thought he could be.

Sigler will play Abby, a strong, confident, attractive, smart, sports analyst on Mitch’s Fantasy Football league show. Caan plays an ex-legendary football player/coach who also is working on the show. Williams plays Mitch’s new boss.

Sigler most recently co-starred in NBC’s Guys with Kids.

Latest Trailer Released for Bratt’s “Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2”

Benjamin Bratt can expect some cloudy conditions this September…

The 49-year-old half-Peruvian American actor returns as Manny in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, the 3D animated film that saw it’s latest trailer released this week.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

It’s not gigantic foods but living “foodimals” that plague the heroes of Sony’s sequel to 2009′s hit Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs.

Along with Bratt, who portrays Sam’s Guatemalan cameraman and a former doctor, co-pilot, and comedian, the film’s voice cast includes Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Crews, Will Forte, Andy Samberg, Kristen Schaal and James Caan.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller wrote and directed the first pic, a $243M global smash, before passing the reins to new helmers Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 opens in theaters on September 27.

Trailer Released for Bratt’s “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”

Benjamin Bratt is back for seconds

Sony Pictures has released the trailer for Cloudy with a Chance Of Meatballs 2, which features the return of the 49-year-old half-Peruvian American actor as Manny.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

The sequel to the 2009 animated film, which grossed $243 million globally, also stars Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Crews, Will Forte, Andy Samberg and James Caan as part of the voice cast.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is set to open in theaters nationwide on September 27.

Meanwhile, Bratt is voicing the villain in the just-released Despicable Me 2.

Lionsgate Acquires U.S. Rights to Saldaña’s “Blood Ties”

Zoë Saldaña’s next project will have blood ties to the United States…

Lionsgate’s Roadside Attractions has acquired the U.S. distribution rights for Blood Ties, Guillaume Canet’s English-language directorial debut starring the 34-year-old Puerto Rican/Dominican-American actress and Star Trek Into Darkness starlet.

Zoe Saldana

Lionsgate reportedly paid $2 million to close the deal on the film, which centers on two brothers, one a cop and one an ex-con.

It’s based on the French film Les Liens Du Sang, which starred Canet. He stayed behind the camera for this one with Saldaña, Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Maroin Cotillard, Domenick Lombardozzi, Mila Kunis, Matthias Schoenaerts and James Caan starring.

Bratt Back for “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” Sequel

It looks like Benjamin Bratt will be heading back to the world of broadcasting…

The 48-year-old half-Peruvian American actor will be returning to lend his voice to the character of Manny the cameraman in the sequel to the animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Benjamin Bratt

Along with Bratt, Sony Pictures Animation has reunited most of the original voicecast for the sequel, titled Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers.

Bill Hader and Anna Faris return as the two leads, inventor Flint Lockwood and weather girl Sam Sparks. Also back are James Caan as Flint’s dad, Andy Samberg as a local celebrity and Neil Patrick Harris.

New to the voicecast is The Expendables 2 star Terry Crews, who will play a cop in the town of Swallow Falls. Will Forte, who had a role in the first movie, is back in a new role, that of Chester V, an inventor and idol of Lockwood’s who invites him to join others bright minds at a technology company.

According to the studio, Cloudy 2 picks up where the first movie left off, with Lockwood discovering that his evil machine, which turns water into food, “is still operating and now creating mutant food beasts. With the fate of humanity in his hands, Flint and his friends must embark on a dangerously delicious mission, battling hungry tacodiles, shrimpanzees, apple pie-thons, double bacon cheespiders and other food creatures to save the world… again!”

Cloudy 2 is set for release in 3D on February 7, 2014.