Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson is in final negotiations to star in “A Willing Patriot,” which will be produced and fully financed by MadRiver Pictures, the company’s Marc Butan announced Monday.
Neeson will portray a CIA agent who engages in an elaborate cat-and-mouse game with a sinister terrorist planning an imminent attack. He’ll risk everything, including his own life, to stop his foe and avenge his own mysterious past.
Martin Zandvliet will direct from a script by Jason Keller, who will produce with Film 360’s Guymon Casady and Darin Friedman, and Hollywood Gang’s Gianni Nunnari. Shannon Gaulding will oversee the project for Hollywood Gang.
The project was originally developed by Keller, Film 360 and Hollywood Gang at Warner Bros. and subsequently acquired by MadRiver. Sierra/Affinity represents international rights on the film with CAA, which packaged the film and arranged the financing. CAA is also representing U.S. rights, and a wide domestic release deal is expected to be announced during the Cannes Film Festival.
“Liam Neeson is one of the defining actors of our generation and audiences will love him in this role. After seeing Martin’s new film ‘Land of Mine,’ we knew he was an incredible storyteller and the perfect match to collaborate with Liam,” said Butan.
Neeson is currently filming Martin Scorsese‘s “Silence” and he’s represented by CAA, while Zandvliet is repped by WME. Film 360 is represented by Julian Zafijen, and Hollywood Gang and Keller are repped by attorney Carlos Goodman.
20 of Denzel Washington and Liam Neeson's Biggest Box Office Hits (Photos)
"The Pelican Brief" (1993) - The oldest film on this list, Washington teamed up with a red hot Julia Roberts to bring in $101 million dollars in the U.S. and $195 million worldwide.
"Schindler's List" (1993) - Neeson earned his only Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a businessman during the Holocaust who grows close to his Jewish workers and resolves to save as many as he can. The film resonated with audiences, earning $96 million in the U.S. and $321 million worldwide.
"Crimson Tide" (1995) - Washington starred with Gene Hackman in this nuclear suspense thriller, which pulled in $91 million domestic and $157 worldwide.
"Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace" (1999) - Neeson's role as Qui-Gon Jinn in the continuation of the sci-fi epic soured critics but raked in a whopping $1.027 billion worldwide, $475 million domestic.
"Remember the Titans" (2000) - Washington led an integrated football team to a championship and led the film to $115 million domestic and $137 million worldwide.
"Man on Fire" (2004) - Washington's turn as a vengeful assassin earned $78 million in the U.S. and $130 million worldwide.
"Batman Begins" (2005) - Neeson's portrayal of Henri Ducard/Ra's al Ghul helped define Christopher Nolan's Batman films. His musings of masks, symbols and justice would shape many of the trilogy's themes and helped power the film to $207 million domestic and $374 million worldwide.
"Inside Man" (2006) - Washington reunited with Spike Lee and helped revive the director's career with this smart crime thriller, earning $89 million domestic and $189 worldwide.
"American Gangster" (2007) - Washington's turn as the ruthless, capitalistic drug kingpin Frank Lucas drove audiences to the theaters en masse, earning $130 million in the U.S. and $266 million worldwide.
"Unstoppable" (2009) - This Tony Scott film barreled like an out-of-control train towards $82 million domestic and $168 worldwide.
"Taken" (2009) - The film that launched his action career, Neeson surprised with his ease in playing a badass and audiences turned out in droves, to the tune of $145 million in the U.S. and $227 million worldwide.
"The A-Team" (2010) - This adaptation of the hit 1970s TV show, with Neeson as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith, brought in $77 million in the U.S. and $177 million worldwide.
"The Book of Eli" (2010) - Washington is a post-apocalyptic prophet on a mission in this underrated action film, which drew in audiences to the tune of $95 million and $157 million worldwide.
"Clash of the Titans" (2010) - "Release the Kraken!" This summer blockbuster about the mythical Greek gods, with Neeson as Zeus, earned $163 million domestic and $493 million worldwide.
"Wrath of the Titans" (2012) - Neeson returns as Zeus to help save the ancient world from the Titans in this summer hit, which earned $84 million domestic and $305 million worldwide.
"Taken 2" (2012) - Neeson returns as a man with "a very particular set of skills" who must save himself and his ex-wife from vengeful kidnappers. The sequel pulled in $140 million domestic and $376 million worldwide.
"Safe House" (2012) - Washington plays a fugitive on the run with his CIA handler (Ryan Reynolds) in this spy thriller, which pulled in $126 million in the U.S. and $208 million worldwide.
"Dark Knight Rises" (2012) - The critically acclaimed third film in Christopher Nolan's batman trilogy raked in $1.084 billion worldwide, $448 million domestic. Neeson appeared as Ra's al Guhl in flashbacks.
"Flight" (2013) - Washington played an extremely flawed pilot who must deal with his own failings while being hailed as a hero; the movie earned $94 million in the U.S. and $162 million worldwide.
"Non-Stop" (2014) - Neeson plays an air marshal in this airborne version of "Die Hard," which brought in $92 million in the U.S. and $202 million worldwide.
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Action movies have been big earners for both of the veteran stars
"The Pelican Brief" (1993) - The oldest film on this list, Washington teamed up with a red hot Julia Roberts to bring in $101 million dollars in the U.S. and $195 million worldwide.
