James Caan’s Final Movie ‘Fast Charlie’ Sets U.S. Release With Vertical; Pierce Brosnan & Morena Baccarin Lead Ensemble

EXCLUSIVE: James Caan’s final film, the action thriller Fast Charlie, has been snapped up for U.S. distribution by Vertical ahead of its October 7th world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

Caan died in Los Angeles in July 2022, aged 82, following a decorated career of six decades. Specifics as to release plans for his last project, based on the 2001 novel Gun Monkeys, haven’t been disclosed. On board to handle international sales for the pic, also starring Pierce Brosnan and the Deadpool franchise’s Morena Baccarin, is Palisades Park Pictures.

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Brosnan’s character in the pic financed by Ashland Hill is Charlie Swift, aka “Fast Charlie,” the consumate fixer with a problem: the target he’s just whacked is missing his head. Unfortunately, the only way for him to get paid is to prove it’s the intended target to the man who paid for the hit — New Orleans’ most ruthless mobster, Beggar Mercado (The Wire‘s Gbenga Akinnagbe). Charlie looks to do so by enlisting the help of Marcie Kramer (Baccarin), the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with the backbone and skillset he desperately needs. Dragging Marcie back into a past she was determined to escape sends the pair on a wild and unpredictable odyssey, and throughout their escapades, they fight to protect the legacy of Charlie’s best friend and mentor, Stan Mullen (Caan), while bringing down Beggar and his entire operation.

Phillip Noyce (Salt) directed from a script by Richard Wenk (Equalizer franchise), with Toby Huss (Blonde) and Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) rounding out the cast.

Said producer Daniel Grodnik of the film, “Richard Wenk’s adaptation of Victor Gischler’s thriller novel, ‘Gun Monkeys,’ coupled with Phillip Noyce’s keen direction, brings us into a fast-paced world where loyalty, commitment, and doing what’s right still matter. The relationship between Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin is as surprising for them as it is for the audience which makes for a lot of fun.”

In discussing the pic’s appeal, Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey stated that “Phillip has delivered a crisp, swift thriller with heart that showcases Brosnan and Baccarin’s chemistry delivering performances that seamlessly flow between action, thrills and drama with a good measure of humor weaved throughout to give audiences an exceptionally satisfying experience.”

In addition to Grodnik, producers on Fast Charlie include Mitchell Welch, Jeff Holland, Brent C. Johnson, and Ryan Donnell Smith. Exec producers are Mark Damon, Tamara Birkemoe, Joe Simpson, Simon Williams, Jonathan Bross, Emily Hunter Salveson, Victor Gischler, and Matthew E. Chausse.

Currently in theaters with Rebecca Miller’s inventive rom-com She Came to Me, starring Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway and Marisa Tomei, which world premiered in Berlin, Vertical also today released Miranda’s Victim, a starry legal drama, based on a momentous real-life case, which Abigail Breslin leads.

Jarowey and SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi negotiated the deal on behalf of the company, with UTA Independent Film Group and Palisades Park Pictures’ Birkemoe and Damon on behalf of the production.

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