A reboot of Sylvester Stallone’s action classic Cliffhanger is now in production, but the project has undergone significant changes since it was first announced over 18 months ago.
Stallone will no longer star in this update, which was initially set to be directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland) with a script by Mark Bianculli (Hunters).
Instead, the lead role has been reimagined, with Lily James (The Iron Claw, Pam & Tommy) stepping in. Pierce Brosnan will co-star, and Jaume Collet-Serra (Carry-On, Non-Stop) will now direct. This project is produced by Rocket Science in collaboration with Thank You Pictures and Supernix.
Currently filming in Austria, Cliffhanger features a dynamic supporting cast that includes Nell Tiger Free (Servant, The First Omen), celebrated festival actor Franz Rogowski (Passages), Shubham Saraf (Shantaram), Assaad Bouab (Franklin), Suzy Bemba (Poor Things), and Bruno Gouery, a breakout star from Netflix’s Emily in Paris.
The new screenplay, developed from a story by Ana Lily Amirpour, is described as a father-daughter take on Die Hard.
In this version, Brosnan plays seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper, who runs a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with his daughter, Sydney.
A weekend trip with a billionaire’s son turns perilous when they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s daughter, Naomi (played by James), who still grapples with trauma from a past climbing accident, escapes the attack. Now, to save her family, she must confront her fears and fight to survive.
Producers on the project include Lars Sylvest of Thank You Pictures, Joe Neurauter of Supernix, and Thorsten Schumacher of Rocket Science, along with Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe.
Director Collet-Serra shared his excitement about the production, saying, “Filming in the Dolomites with large-format cameras was crucial to capturing the story’s immense scope.
We’re aiming to deliver a visceral and thrilling cinematic experience. Lily has truly dedicated herself to the role, undergoing training and learning to climb, enabling us to capture extraordinary shots that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. The entire crew is astounded by her commitment.”
Aiming for a theatrical release, Cliffhanger has Rocket Science managing international sales, with CAA Media Finance representing North American and Chinese distribution rights. Rocket Science has a distribution agreement with Studiocanal for the film’s rights.
Executive producers on the project include Amirpour and Collet-Serra. Other executive producers are Chance Wright of Wright Productions, Gianluca Chakra and Hisham Alghanim of Front Row Entertainment, and from Level Field Media Finance, Josef Brandmaier, Jeff Most, Katy Most, and Matthew Stedman. Philipp Kreuzer executive produces for Supernix.
Reflecting the collaborative nature of this independent production, additional executive producers include Kwesi Dickson and Jay Taylor for Electric Shadow, MTG and Rodrigo Tarazona, Robert Daly Jr. and David Lipper for Latigo Films, and Kevan van Thompson for Capfilms.
James will also serve as executive producer through her Parodos Productions banner, alongside partner Gala Gordon. Co-producers include Hungarian Hero Squared, Jonathan Halperyn, Daniel Kresmery, and Jazmyn Tanski.
James is represented by UTA, Tavistock Wood, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Brosnan’s representation includes CAA, Viewpoint, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.
Collet-Serra is represented by LBI Entertainment and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman.
Nell Tiger Free is with Independent Talent; Rogowski is represented by CAA, B-Side Management, and Agentur Hobrig; Saraf by Insight Management & Production and Circle M+P; Bouab by Chalcot Sq Arts & Media Management; and Bemba and Gouery by United Agents.
