Filming is now underway on action adventure movie “Afterburn,” starring Dave Bautista (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Dune”) and Samuel L. Jackson (“The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” “Django Unchained”) withOlgaKurylenko (“Quantum of Solace,” “Black Widow”)and Kristofer Hivju (“The Gentlemen,”“Cocaine Bear”) rounding out the cast.
The film is directed by J.J. Perry, who recently helmed Lionsgate’s“TheKiller’s Game,” also with Bautista, working from a screenplay adapted by Matthew Johnson and Nimrod Antal from the “Red 5” comic book of the same name.
Set ten years after a solar flare wiped out technology across the globe, “Afterburn” follows ex-soldier Jake (Bautista), who works as a treasure hunter recovering valuable objects from the old world for powerful clients. His latest mission: team up with freedom fighter Drea (Kurylenko) to recover the Mona Lisa before an unhinged warlord gets there first.
The picture is produced by Neal H. Moritz (“Fast and Furious”franchise) and Toby Jaffe (“Total Recall”) for Original Film and Steve Richards (“RocknRolla,” “Unknown”) for Endurance Media. Bautista will also produce for Dogbone Entertainment, along with Jonathan Meisner (“Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy”) and Chris Milburn (“Strangers”). Black Bear introduced the film to buyers at the EFM earlier in the year and will continue selling the film in Cannes, with CAA Media Finance representing US rights.
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Before transitioning to directing, J.J. Perry was widely regarded as one of the most skilled second unit directors and stunt coordinators in the business, regularly collaborating with directors such as Ang Lee, Chad Stahelski, Justin Lin and Spike Lee. This led to Perry’s 2022 directorial debut “Day Shift,” the feature action-comedy at Netflix starring Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco and Snoop Dogg.
The Black Bear slate includes the Sydney Sweeney horror vehicle“Immaculate”which NEON released in March; Guy Ritchie’s“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”from Lionsgate starring Henry Cavill, which is also currently in theaters; and“Nyad,” starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, both of whom were nominated for Oscars for their roles. Upcoming films include Greg Kwedar’s“Sing Sing”starring Oscar nominee Colman Domingo from A24;“In the Grey”from director Guy Ritchie, starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza Gonzalez;“Relay”from director David Mackenzie, starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James; and Matthew McConaughey crime thriller“The Rivals of Amziah King.” Black Bear is currently in production on David Ayer’s“Levon’s Trade”starring Jason Statham and Clint Bentley’s“Train Dreams”starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones. They recently began pre-production on the Sydney Sweeney-led untitled Christy Martin boxing project from director David Michôd, which Black Bear is introducing to buyers in Cannes.
Bautista is represented by CAA, Meisner Entertainment Group, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein. Jackson is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein. Kurylenko is represented by Agence Adequat, Independent Talent Group, and Untitled Entertainment. Hivju is repped by Panorama Agency, UTA, and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan. Perry is repped by WME, Holly Jeter and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
