Cannes: Christoph Waltz’s Hitman Comedy ‘Old Guy’ Sells Wide (Exclusive)
Highland Film Group’s action-comedy Old Guy — starring Christoph Waltz, Lucy Liu and Cooper Hoffman — has landed a number of key international deals.
Directed by Simon West (The Expendables 2, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Mechanic) and written by Greg Johnson (The Last Son), the film has sold to SND Films for France, Square One Entertainment GmbH for Germany, Vertigo Releasing and Lumiere Ventures for the U.K., YouPlanet Pictures for Spain, Blue Swan Entertainment for Italy, Spentzos Film for Greece, NOS Lusomundo Audiovisuais for Portugal, SF Studios for Scandinavia, Vertical Entertainment for Eastern Europe, Aqua Group for Turkey, Falcon Films for the Middle East, Forum Film for Israel, California Filmes for Latin America, MovieCloud for Taiwan, Filmfinity for South Africa and Village Road Show for Australia and New Zealand.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Cannes: Sam Levinson Fights Back Tears After 'The Idol' Premiere
'Bread and Roses' Review: A Harrowing Look Inside the Fatal Fight for Women's Rights in Afghanistan
In Old Guy aging contract killer Danny Dolinski (Waltz) still believes he’s the best at what he does. Stuck at a dead end but vying for the love of club manager Anata (Liu), Danny is thrilled when The Company pulls him back into the field, but only to train Gen Z newcomer Wihlborg (Hoffman), a prodigy assassin with an attitude. The mismatched pair is asked to eliminate top members of a competing crime syndicate and, in the process, uncover their employer’s true motive: removing the old guard in a full takeover. However, The Company didn’t anticipate that Danny’s experience, coupled with the kid’s brilliance, would create such an unlikely bond between the two, enabling them, with crucial help from Anata, to turn it all back on The Company.
The film is produced by Jib Polhemus (The Last Son, The Expendables 2), Martin Brennan (One Way, Zone 414), West and R.U. Robot Studio’s Petr Jákl (Medieval, The Last Full Measure). Hal Sadoff (The Nice Guys, Orphan: First Kill) and Norman Golightly (Lord of War, Ghost Rider) will produce on behalf of Dark Castle Entertainment. The film is executive produced by R.U. Robot Studio’s Martin J. Barab, Blue Rider Pictures’ Walter Josten (Around the World in 80 Days, Holes) and Aperture Media Partners’ Jared Underwood, Andrew Robinson and Dan Mandel. Hannah Leader and Frank DeMartini serve on the production legal team.
Production recently wrapped in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Highland Film Group is co-financing the action comedy and handling worldwide rights. Old Guy was filmed on location in Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen.
“We are delighted to be working with such talented actors as two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz, rising talent Cooper Hoffman and Lucy Liu in this fantastic action-packed comedy,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser.
“With the help of our wonderful international partners, we look forward to introducing global audiences to this phenomenal project led by director Simon West,” added COO Delphine Perrier.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
