Renny Harlin Action Thriller ‘The Bricklayer’ Sets U.S. Release With Vertical; Aaron Eckhart, Nina Dobrev Star

EXCLUSIVE: The Renny Harlin action thriller The Bricklayer, starring Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) and Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), has been picked up by Vertical for a day-and-date release in the U.S. early next year.

An adaptation of the same-name novel by former FBI agent Paul Lindsay — who used the pen name Noah Boyd — the film also stars Clifton Collins Jr. (Westworld), Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), and Ilfenesh Hadera (Billions). The story is that of 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.

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Script was written by Hanna Weg and Matt Johnson (Into the Blue). 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. Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey and SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi negotiated the deal on behalf of Vertical, with Millennium Media’s Greenstein and J.J. Nugent on behalf of the production.

Said Millennium Media VP, Development and Production Tanner Mobley, “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.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Millennium as our first collaboration,” added Jarowey. “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.”

Most recently acquiring the Tribeca thriller Cold Copy, starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Bel Powley and Jacob Tremblay, Vertical’s current and upcoming releases include Maïwenn’s 2023 Cannes opener Jeanne Du Barry with Johnny Depp; Sophie Barthes’ The Pod Generation starring Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor; Rebecca Miller’s She Came To Me starring Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway; Independent Spirit Award winner Emily the Criminal starring Aubrey Plaza and Theo Rossi; To Catch a Killer starring Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn; and Michael Jacobs’ Maybe I Do starring Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, William H. Macy, Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey.

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