Focus Features Acquires ‘Last Breath’ Starring Woody Harrelson, Finn Cole and Simu Liu — Cannes

Diana Lodderhose and Anthony D'Alessandro
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: Focus Features has acquired U.S. rights and select international territories on upcoming thriller Last Breath, starring Woody Harrelson, Finn Cole and Simu Liu. Focus will distribute the Alex Parkinson-directed title in the U.S. with Universal Pictures International handling select territories including France, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam.

The project is an exhilarating true story, based on the 2019 documentary of the same name, which Parkinson co-directed with Richard da Costa. It follows a seasoned deep sea diver as he battles against the raging elements to execute his final rescue mission. It’s described as a “heart-pounding” and “gripping tale of teamwork” that takes audiences on a race against time. Mitchell LaFortune, Parkinson and David Brooks have written the script for the fact-based narrative.

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Last Breath was developed by father and son Paul and David Brooks of Longshot Films and Dark Castle Entertainment, who also co-financed the film with Aperture. Stewart Le Maréchal, Al Morrow, Anna Mohr-Pietsch, Jeremy Plager, Hal Sadoff, Norman Golightly and David and Paul Brooks are producing.

It’s the latest project from longtime collaborators Paul Brooks and Focus Features, after previously working together on My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 and Champions, which also starred Woody Harrelson.  We hear that Paul Brooks took the project to select buyers yesterday here in Cannes.

CAA Media Finance brokered the domestic sale with FilmNation Entertainment handling international sales.

Focus Features’ upcoming slate includes The Bikeriders from director Jeff Nichols, Piece by Piece from Morgan Neville, about the life of Pharrell Williams told through the lens of Lego Bricks, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, Edward Berger’s thriller Conclave, Sean Wang’s Didi, Steven Soderberg’s upcoming crime-thriller Black Bag with Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, the third installment of Downton Abbey and Back to Black, about the life and music of Amy Winehouse from director Sam Taylor-Johnson.

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