It was announced today that Josh Lucas (Ford v Ferrari, Sweet Home Alabama) is set to lead prolific action director Adrian Grunberg’s (Rambo: Last Blood, Get the Gringo) upcoming survival thriller The Black Demon.
Written by Boise Esquerra (Austin Film Festival nominated Blackwater), the film is set to start principal photography in December 2021 on location in the Dominican Republic.
In the film, when oilman Paul Sturges (Lucas) takes his family on vacation to Bahia Azul, the vibrant coastal town he and his wife once knew has mysteriously crumbled and the locals are nowhere to be found. Paul starts off his day with a routine visit to inspect his nearby oil rig, but before he knows it, his entire family has landed with him on the rotting metal tower. From the depths of the ocean rises a massive megalodon known only by its name: “The Black Demon”. Under constant threat from this ancient enemy of legend, Paul must find a way to get his family back to shore alive.
The film is based on a legendary shark. For decades, sailors and fishermen have been reporting sightings of a giant black shark, referred to as “The Black Demon,” spotted many times near Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. The beast is said to be between 20-60 feet long and weighs anywhere between 50-100,000 lbs, leaving people questioning if Megladons are still out there.
Developed by Mucho Mas Media and Silk Mass, The Black Demon is co-financed by Highland Film Group (HFG), which is representing worldwide rights to the film and will launch international sales at the upcoming American Film Market. HFG’s domestic distribution arm, The Avenue, has taken US distribution rights and is targeting a 2023 release.
The Black Demon is produced by Mucho Mas’ Javier Chapa and Silk Mass’ Jon Silk, alongside R.U. Robot’s Petr Jákl. The film is executive produced by production company Mucho Mas’ Phillip Braun, Simon Wise, Bruce Barshop, Vincent Cordero, Highland Film Group’s Arianne Fraser, and Delphine Perrier, Henry Winterstern, The Avenue’s JJ Caruth, and R.U. Robot’s Martin J. Barab. The Avenue and R.U. Robot are on board for financing.
Survival thrillers centered on the apex predator of the ocean have captivated audiences for generations, and to have this fresh take helmed by the action master Adrian and led by the incredibly talented Josh, makes The Black Demon a truly exciting project,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser. “We think audiences around the world will be excited to see this Mexican legend on the big screen for the first time,” added Mucho Mas’ Javier Chapa.
Box-office draw Josh Lucas can be seen next in Lilly alongside Academy Award-nominated Patricia Clarkson. He has appeared in Universal’s latest Purge franchise offering, The Forever Purge, the Academy Award-winning biopic Ford v Ferrari opposite Christian Bale and Matt Damon, as Young John Dutton in Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” Disney’s hugely successful rom-com Sweet Home Alabama opposite Reese Witherspoon and Lionsgate’s gripping psychodrama American Psycho opposite Bale.
Adrian Grünberg is known for directing 20th Century Fox’s Get the Gringo starring Mel Gibson, which he also co-wrote with Gibson, and Lionsgate’s Rambo: Last Blood starring action megastar Sylvester Stallone.
Highland Film Group’s current sales slate of films also includes Renny Harlin’s The Misfits starring Pierce Brosnan, Nick Cannon, and Tim Roth; Allan Ungar’s Bandit starring Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson, and Elisha Cuthbert; Stephan Rick’s The Good Neighbor starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Luke Kleintank; Avan Jogia’s Door Mouse starring Hayley Law, Famke Janssen and Keith Powers and Andy Fickman’s One True Loves starring Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu, Phillipa Soo, and Luke Bracey.
