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Here’s more proof that actor Aaron Eckhart is quietly but efficiently proving that he is one of action cinema’s most underrated stars. From turns as the president in the first two Has Fallen movies to more recent fare like Muzzle and the upcoming Change of Station, Eckhart is one serious threat as he can act along with getting physical. He’s got that certain Steve McQueen appeal if you ask me as he can communicate without saying a word.
You can now add The Bricklayer to Eckhart’s action filmography arsenal as Vertical has just snagged rights to the film which co-stars Nina Dobrev who is best known for starring in the hit series The Vampire Diaries as well as a role in Vin Diesel’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage.
Eckhart plays an elite CIA operative who must put his retirement on hold when a mysterious enemy is framing America’s covert agency turning the world against them. A new image courtesy of Vertical can now be seen below of Eckhart in action on a very crowded street!
In The Bricklayer, someone is blackmailing the CIA—assassinating foreign journalists and making it look like the agency is responsible. As the world begins to unite against the U.S., the CIA must lure its most brilliant—and rebellious—operative out of retirement, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy. Clifton Collins Jr. (Westworld), Tim Blake Nelson (Nightmare Alley) and Ilfenesh Hadera (Paramount’s Baywatch) also star.
Famed action director Renny Harlin, who is best known for giving us some high octane classics such as Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight and many more, directs with a release set for summer 2024. Screen Media acquired the movie from Millennium Films so keep an eye out for first look footage of Eckhart taking out some nefarious trash.
Full Press Release Intel Below:
Vertical has acquired US rights to Renny Harlin’s (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2) pulsing action-thriller The Bricklayer starring Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, Olympus Has Fallen), and Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries, Let’s Be Cops) from a screenplay by Hanna Weg and Matt Johnson (Into the Blue) based upon the novel “The Bricklayer” by Paul Lindsay writing as Noah Boyd. Clifton Collins Jr. (Westworld), Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), and Ilfenesh Hadera (Billions) round out the cast.
The film is slated for an early 2024 day & date release.
The Bricklayer follows a rogue insurgent blackmailing the CIA by assassinating foreign journalists and making it appear the agency is responsible. As other nations begin turning against the U.S., the CIA must lure Steve Vail (Eckhart) – their most brilliant and rebellious operative – out of retirement. With an elite and deadly skill set, Vail is tasked with helping clear the agency’s name, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy.
Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey stated, “We are thrilled to partner with Millennium as our first collaboration. Renny Harlin, possessing an acute mastery of the action-thriller genre, delivers in the The Bricklayer, and elicits extraordinary performances from a cast led by Aaron Eckhart. The film, a riveting adventure through the realms of espionage and intrigue, promises to captivate audiences from start to finish.”
“Working with Renny is always a delight, and teaming up with Vertical was a no-brainer. We’re excited to collaborate with Vertical’s incredibly talented team who are the perfect partners for this film,” said Millennium Media’s Tanner Mobley, Vice President of Development and Production.
Jeffrey Greenstein, Yariv Lerner, Jonathan Yunger, Heidi Jo Markel and Robert Van Norden produced, with Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson, Erik Lindsay, Tanner Mobley, and Les Weldon serving as executive producers. The cinematographer is Matti Eerikäinen and the composer is Walter Mair.
Vertical’s Jarowey and SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi negotiated the deal on behalf of Vertical; Millennium Media’s Jeffrey Greenstein and J.J. Nugent negotiated the deal on behalf of the production.
