Lily James and Pierce Brosnan to Star

A reboot of Sylvester Stallone’s action classic “Cliffhanger” is currently in production, but the film will look a lot different from the package initially announced nearly 18 months ago.

Stallone will no longer star in the update meant to be directed by Ric Roman Waugh (“Greenland”) from a script by Mark Bianculli (“Hunters”). A creative overhaul has meant that actor Lily James (“The Iron Claw, “Pam & Tommy”) will take on the lead role. Pierce Brosnan will co-star and Jaume Collet-Serra (“Carry-On,” “Non-Stop”) will direct. The project hails from Rocket Science in partnership with Thank You Pictures and Supernix. 

Filming is underway in Austria with a buzzy supporting cast, including: Nell Tiger Free (“Servant,” “The First Omen”), festival darling Franz Rogowski (“Passages”), Shubham Saraf (“Shantaram”), Assaad Bouab (“Franklin”), Suzy Bemba (“Poor Things”) and Bruno Gouery, a breakout star of the Netflix hit “Emily in Paris.” 

The new script is based on a story by Ana Lily Amirpour. Insiders familiar with the project described it as a father-daughter take on “Die Hard.”

Brosnan will play seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper, who operates a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with daughter Sydney. During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s daughter Naomi (James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival. 

Lars Sylvest of Thank You Pictures, Joe Neurauter of Supernix and Rocket Science’s Thorsten Schumacher will produce with Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe.

“Shooting our movie on location in the Dolomites using large format cameras was imperative for us to show the scope and scale of the story we’re telling. We’re going to bring the audience a truly thrilling and visceral, premium theatrical experience,” said Serra in a statement. “Lily in particular has gone above and beyond for the role, putting in real training and learning to climb. Her dedication has allowed us to capture some incredible shots we couldn’t have achieved otherwise, and the whole crew is blown away by her commitment.” 

“Cliffhanger” will pursue a theatrical release with Rocket Science handling international sales and CAA Media Finance representing North American and Chinese territories. Rocket Science has a partnership agreement with Studiocanal for the film’s rights. 

Amirpour and Collet-Serra are executive producing. Chance Wright of Wright Productions and Front Row Entertainment’s Gianluca Chakra and Hisham Alghanim are co-investors and executive producers. Josef Brandmaier, Jeff Most, Katy Most and Matthew Stedman are executive producing for Level Field Media Finance.  Philipp Kreuzer is executive producing for Supernix.

Proving the truly collaborative nature of independent filmmaking, there are yet more executive producers: Kwesi Dickson and Jay Taylor for Electric Shadow as well as MTG and Rodrigo Tarazona; Robert Daly Jr. and David Lipper for Latigo Films; and Kevan van Thompson for Capfilms. James herself will also executive produce through her banner Parodos Productions, alongside partner Gala Gordon. Hungarian Hero Squared, Jonathan Halperyn and Daniel Kresmery are co-producing along with Jazmyn Tanski.

James is represented by UTA, Tavistock Wood, Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Brosnan is represented by CAA, Viewpoint, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox. Collet-Serra is with LBI Entertainment and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman.

Free is with Independent Talent; Rogowski at CAA, B-Side Management, and Agentur Hobrig; Kumar by Insight Management & Production and Circle M+P;  Bouab by Chalcot Sq Arts & Media Management; and Bemba and Gouery by United Agents.