Cannes: Aaron Eckhart to Star in Angel Studios' ‘The Old Man in the Dunes' (Exclusive)
Aaron Eckhart has signed on to star in The Old Man in the Dunes, an 'inspirational thriller' from Angel Studios, the faith-based distributor behind Sound of Freedom and The King of Kings.
The feature, based on an award-winning short, traces the story of an enigmatic old man living in the dunes who is unjustly accused of killing a local. His only hope is a steadfast public defender determined to unearth the truth. According to a summary of the plot, the story 'delves deep into the human soul, underscoring the consequences of concealing the truth and the redemption that can be found in repentance.'
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Christian Guiton wrote The Old Man in the Dunes and will direct the film as his feature debut. Noli Molla and Mark Holder are producing for Wonder Street, alongside Jacques Abrahamian. The film is set to begin shooting in the third quarter of this year for a planned 2026 release.
'The Old Man in the Dunes has been part of my family's story for nearly a century, and it's a dream come true to finally bring it to life,' said Guiton in a statement. 'With Aaron Eckhart leading the cast, a raw and emotional approach to the storytelling, and the incredible support of Angel, we're excited to create something both gritty and hopeful. I'm beyond grateful for the team that's making this dream a reality.'
Angel Studios will bow the film stateside. Pia Patatian's Cloud9 Studios are handling international sales and will be pitching the project to buyers at the Cannes film market next week.
Cloud9′ Cannes slate also includes Barry Levinson's thriller Assassination starring Jessica Chastain, Brendan Fraser, Al Pacino, and Bryan Cranston, which will begin shooting this summer, and the romantic comedy Under the Stars starring Toni Collette and Andy Garcia. Wonder Street is currently in production on the Mark Wahlberg film By Any Means, and in pre-production on Naomi Watts' The Housewife.
Angel Studios is riding high on the success of The King of Kings, an animated feature from South Korean company Mofac Animation about the life of Jesus Christ, with a voice cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Mark Hamill, and Forest Whitaker, and which has grossed close to $60 million at the domestic box office to date. Angel's breakout film was Alejandro Monteverde's The Sound of Freedom, which earned more than $184 million domestically and over $250 million worldwide but became associated in the public discussion with the QAnon conspiracy movement.
Eckhart is represented by CAA and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman.
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