Irish actor Pierce Brosnan will go down in history as one of the most successful James Bond actors to thrive beyond the 007 franchise. For many stars, stepping out of the shadow of such an iconic role can prove difficult, but Brosnan has effortlessly reinvented himself as one of Hollywood’s most dependable leading men for charismatic, sophisticated older characters across multiple genres. Decades after handing over the Bond mantle, Brosnan’s star power remains strong enough that Hollywood is now betting on him to help launch its next major action franchise with the upcoming survival thriller, Cliffhanger.
Cliffhanger is a remake of the Sylvester Stallone-led 1993 action thriller of the same name. The original was a major blockbuster hit with Stallone starring as a mountain climber who finds himself in the crosshairs of criminals attempting to rob a U.S. Treasury plane. Stallone also contributed to the screenplay of the film, which grossed $255 million against a $70 million budget, becoming one of the year’s most successful releases. Stallone, however, will not be involved in the remake in any capacity, with Brosnan stepping in and the story instead coming from Sascha Penn and Mark Bianculli, with Jaume Collet-Serra (Carry-On) as director. Lily James (Pam & Tommy) also co-stars.
Cliffhanger was acquired by new distributor Row K last fall for a wide U.S. theatrical release originally slated for August 28, with plans for an extensive rollout across roughly 3,000 screens. A massive roll-out like that signaled strong confidence in the project as a potential blockbuster material. The release would have seen it compete against other major summer releases like Ridley Scott‘s The Dog Stars, Jason Statham‘s Mutiny, as well as Anne Hathaway‘s The End of Oak Street. However, new reports via Deadline reveal that Cliffhanger‘s release may now be delayed, potentially shifting into the first quarter of 2027. The change follows reported financial difficulties at Row K, which has now sought a partnership with Tom Quinn’s NEON to help release the film.
What Is ‘Cliffhanger’ About?
The remake tells a new story, separate from the original film. Brosnan plays Ray Cooper, a seasoned mountain climber who now operates a luxury resort in the Dolomites with his daughter Sydney. When the son of a billionaire arrives for a weekend getaway, the group becomes the target of a violent kidnapping plot. Ray’s other daughter, Naomi (James), witnesses the attack but escapes. However, to help save her family, she must overcome severe acrophobia triggered by a past tragedy.
Cliffhanger landing at NEON would mark a notable shift for the distributor, best known for its slate of arthouse and horror titles. However, given its track record of turning smaller films into breakout hits, it’s safe to say Cliffhanger has climbed into safe hands. Not to mention, it will be interesting to see what viral strategy NEON will employ in its marketing push for this one.
via Collider