Vertical has bought the U.S. rights to a new version of Cliffhanger, and the deal comes with a lot of baggage attached. The film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, stars Lily James as the lead role originally played by Sylvester Stallone in the 1993 original. Pierce Brosnan plays her father, and the film also features Nell Tiger Free as her sister.
The movie reportedly cost $100 million to make.
Row K’s Collapse
Cliffhanger was supposed to be a flagship release from Row K, the company that distributed its first film, Gus Van Sant’s thriller Dead Man’s Wire, earlier this year. Then the company fell apart.
Row K has sold off the rights to much of its upcoming slate. Maude Apatow’s directorial debut, Poetic License, went to Sony Pictures Entertainment. Now this Cliffhanger remake has gone to Vertical.
Despite the meltdown, Row K will still distribute its romantic comedy Charlie Harper later this month.
The Story So Far
The film is set in the Dolomites, where legendary mountaineer Ray Cooper runs a secluded luxury chalet with his daughters, Naomi and Sydney. When a billionaire’s son arrives for a weekend getaway, a ruthless gang takes Ray hostage and leaves Sydney in the crossfire.
Naomi, haunted by a devastating climbing accident, must overcome her fear of the mountains and turn the terrain against her enemies in a relentless race to save her family.
What Vertical Got
Vertical acquires the U.S. distribution rights to the film. The company now controls how and where it reaches American audiences.
The film is set for wide theatrical release next spring.
The Villain Question
Brosnan is playing Naomi’s father in the film. The source notes he spots as her film father, though it speculates he may be revealed as the John Lithgow-style villain.
Brosnan spots as her film father.
A Studio In Trouble
Row K’s collapse means the film’s provenance is unusual. The company distributed its first film before it fell apart, and now it is selling its remaining projects to other distributors.
The Cast
Lily James takes over for Stallone. Brosnan plays her father. Nell Tiger Free plays her sister. The setup is classic Hollywood: daughter, father, sister, and a mountain full of trouble.
Release Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Row K distributes Dead Man’s Wire | Earlier this year |
| Row K sells Poetic License to Sony | Sold |
| Row K sells Cliffhanger to Vertical | Sold |
| Row K distributes Charlie Harper | Later this month |
| Cliffhanger releases in theaters | Next spring |
What We Make Of It
Vertical has a $100 million action movie on its hands, with a star who has made big pictures before and a director known for thrillers. The studio that made it is defunct. That is a strange position to be in, but not necessarily a bad one.
The film has a strong cast, a familiar title, and a premise that works for summer audiences. Whether it lives up to the $100 million price tag remains to be seen.
For now, Vertical has a project with a past that reads like a cautionary tale about studio ambition. The company has the rights, and the movie has a chance to prove itself on its own terms.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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