Latest news with #SimonWest
Geek Tyrant
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
CON AIR Director Simon West to Helm WWII Espionage Thriller FORTITUDE — GeekTyrant
Director Simon West, the action maestro behind Con Air , Lara Croft: Tomb Raider , and The Expendables 2 , is stepping into the world of World War II espionage with his next project, Fortitude . Described as a historical action-adventure rooted in true events, the film will spotlight the daring British intelligence operations that used trickery, theatrics, and spies to outwit the Nazis and shift the trajectory of the war. The script, written by producer Simon Afram ( Lear Rex ), is set to begin filming this summer in London. Casting is currently underway. The film follows 'the brilliance of British Army officers Dudley Clarke and Thomas Argyll 'Tar' Robertson, who deployed an elaborate web of deception campaigns including fictitious armies, fake military equipment, and a network of double agents to mislead Nazi Intelligence. 'Among them was Yugoslavian playboy Dusko Popov, a real-life double agent. He helped lay the blueprint for James Bond, turning real-life espionage into legend, which ultimately inspired Ian Fleming's novels." Fortitude aims to zoom out and chronicle a broader scope of clever wartime cons, with historical consultation by Joshua Levine, known for his work on Dunkirk and Blitz . The emphasis will be on how imagination, not just military might, helped turn the tide of war. West shared in a statement: 'Fortitude is a tribute to the power of ingenuity, imagination, and the human spirit against all odds. In a moment when bullets couldn't win the battle, it was creativity that turned the tide. I'm truly excited to bring this untold chapter of history to life.' West has always had a flair for high-octane spectacle, but with Fortitude , he's channeling that energy into something a little different and I'm curious to see how he brings this story to life. Source: Deadline
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rebel Wilson's ‘Bride Hard' Sets Release Date, Reveals First Look
Rebel Wilson's 'Bride Hard,' a high-octane twist on a wedding romp, has set a date for wide release this summer. Bob Yari's Magenta Light Studios will take the comedy out nationwide on June 20, Variety can report. Directed by Simon West ('The Expedanbles 2,' 'Con Air'), the film reunites Wilson with her 'Pitch Perfect' costar Anna Camp. The starry supporting cast includes Anna Chlumsky ('Inventing Anna,' 'Veep'), Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph ('The Holdovers'), Gigi Zumbado ('Heart Eyes'), Stephen Dorff ('True Detective,' 'The Righteous Gemstones') and Justin Hartley ('Tracker,' 'This is Us'). More from Variety Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson to Star in Sky Christmas Comedy 'Tinsel Town' Rebel Wilson's 'Bride Hard' Sells to Magenta Light Studios for U.S. Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE) 'The Deb' Review: Rebel Wilson Lets Her Musical Roots Show in Ribald Satire of Modern Courtship Wilson plays Sam, a secret agent whose toughest mission to date is pleasing her bride-to-be best friend (Camp) at a lavish destination wedding. When a team of mercenaries crashes the party and takes the guests hostage, Sam is thrown into a fight unlike any before — one where she can't risk blowing her cover or ruining the big day. As she takes on the bad guys in a high-stakes battle disguised as a fairy-tale affair, she realizes the real threat might be closer than she thinks. She a first look photo above. 'Packed with comedy and high-energy thrills, 'Bride Hard' is sure to entertain everyone that has ever attended a wedding,' said Yari. 'Seeing the unexpected duo of Simon West and Rebel Wilson team up makes for a uniquely fun collaboration that audiences will love experiencing on the big screen this summer.' Balcony 9's Joel David Moore ('Immaculate Room,' 'Some Other Woman'), along with Colleen Camp ('Above Suspicion'), Cassian Elwes ('The Butler'), Max Osswald ('Immaculate Room'), and Jason Ross Jallet ('Big Gold Brick') produced the project in association with WME Independent, Copper Island Films and Latigo Films. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
The Guardian
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Old Guy review – Christoph Waltz is grumpy hitman on verge of retirement in action comedy
Action legend Simon West (the director of Con Air, the first Lara Croft and The Mechanic) has put together a pretty moderate comedy-thriller with screenwriter Greg Johnson; the collective star power in its (undoubtedly) impressive cast isn't quite strong enough to make it come alive. It is set in Belfast and Northern Ireland — perhaps because of production funding requirements. There is a slightly weird moment in which Lucy Liu's character, speaking from a bar in London's Soho, says wistfully of Belfast: 'I've always wanted to go there … it's got a great music scene.' Perfectly true, of course, but there is something rather autopilot about the way she delivers the line. Christoph Waltz plays an ageing and dissolute hitman called Danny Dolinski whose trigger finger is seizing up with arthritis, so his exasperated handler tells him he has to retire, but before that, he must mentor a new, up-and-coming assassin called Wihlborg, played by Cooper Hoffman, who is an uptight, no-drinking-and-smoking gen Z-er. Together, they must go out on a job to whack a certain someone on a Northern Irish golf course, but grumpy Danny figures he will do the killing while this young upstart can just watch how a master does the business. And along the way they run into Danny's friend Anata (Liu) for whom Danny may have feelings. Old Guy is always acted with commitment and Hoffman shows he has the chops for a bigger role (his management may be minded to get him to bulk up in the gym for mainstream leading men parts). Three big names doing a professional job … but the target isn't found. Old Guy is in UK and Irish cinemas from 7 March and on digital platforms from 10 March.
