Gerard Butleris an international action hero, so you probably won’t be surprised to learn that he’s set to star in the international action thrillerRemote Control, which will mark his third picture with STX followingDen of Thievesand the upcomingRic Roman WaughfilmGreenland.
Two-time Oscar nomineeJohn Mathieson, who earned his cinematography nominations for shootingGladiatorand Butler’s ownPhantom of the Opera, will direct from a script byMark Burnell, who also wrote the novel upon whichRemote Controlis based.
Per STX, Butler will play Michael Rafter, “a former war correspondent turned corporate security consultant, whose life is overturned when he receives a mysterious phone call from an unknown source. Intrigued by the caller’s intent, Rafter investigates and soon uncovers the threads of a global conspiracy, finding himself drawn into a fight for his life and pursued by the 212, a powerful shadow organization. Rafter soon discovers he has been targeted and framed as the notorious international assassin, Julian Irving. With his own identity erased, Rafter turns to the only person he can trust – his former lover, Tracy, who is also implicated in the conspiracy. Now on the run together, they must stay ahead of the 212, the CIA and a team of professional assassins, and unravel the mystery while trying to stay alive.
Ashok Amritrajwill produce through his Hyde Park Entertainment Group alongside Butler andAlan Siegelof G-Base Entertainment. Executive producers areMichael G. WilsonandBarbara Broccolifor Eon Productions,Priya AmritrajandAddison Mehrfor Hyde Park, andDanielle Robinsonfor G-Base.
“As a producer and a star, Gerard Butler continues to be an extraordinary partner, [and] this is the kind of high-stakes action story that he does best,” saidAdam Fogelsonof STXfilms, which will introduceRemote Controlto international buyers at EFM this week. “[It’s] a thrilling, action-packed story that is very timely for audiences around the globe,” added Amritraj.
Butler is coming off ofAngel Has Fallen, the third film in the hitFallenfranchise, which has grossed more than $522 million worldwide. He also starred inZack Snyder’s blockbuster300, and voiced one of the leads in the popularHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise, which has collectively grossed more than $1.5 billion worldwide.
Butler next stars oppositeMorena BaccarininGreenland, which follows a family struggling to survive in the face of a cataclysmic natural disaster. He’s also slated to reprise his role as Big Nick in a planned sequel to the 2018 crime movieDen of Thieves. He’s represented by CAA and Alan Siegel Entertainment.
In addition toGladiator, Mathieson also served as the cinematographer onJames Mangold’sLoganandGuy Ritchie’sThe Man from U.N.C.LE.He’s repped by Independent Talent Group, which Burnell is repped by David Higham & Co.
Remote Controlisn’t the only action thriller Butler is attached to star in and produce, as he’s also preparing a movie calledThe Planefor takeoff.Click hereto read more about that project.
