The full cast has now been announced for prolific action director Adrian Grünberg’s (Rambo: Last Blood, Get the Gringo) survival thriller The Black Demon.
Fernanda Urrejola (Clint Eastwood’s Cry Macho, Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico”) and Julio Cesar Cedillo (Netflix’s The Harder They Fall and “Narcos: Mexico,” Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario) join Josh Lucas (Ford v Ferrari, Sweet Home Alabama) Jorge A. Jimenez (Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills, Netflix’s “Narcos”), Héctor Jiménez (Jared Hess’ Nacho Libre), Raúl Méndez (“Narcos”), Edgar Flores (Cary Joji Fukunaga’s Sin Nombre), Venus Ariel (Ava DuVernay’s upcoming “DMZ”) and Carlos Solórzano (Eva Longoria’s upcoming Flamin’ Hot).
“We’re so happy with the cast that Adrian was able to unite around this film and cannot imagine a more talented group of actors to create a movie about this Mexican legend,” said producers Javier Chapa and Jon Silk.
In the film, based on a Mexican legend, while on a trip to Baja, an oilman finds himself and his family stranded on a rig where the sins of his past have put him and all he holds dear in the crosshairs of a sinister force.
Written by Boise Esquerra (Austin Film Festival nominated “Blackwater”), the film will wrap principal photography at the end of January on location in the Dominican Republic.
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, Adrian Grünberg, Highland Film Group’s Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier, The Avenue’s JJ Caruth, R.U. Robot’s Martin J. Barab and Blue Rider Pictures’ Walter Josten (Around the World in 80 Days, Holes) and Patrick Josten (Hypnotic, Poker Face). Highland Film Group is also co-financing alongside Blue Rider Pictures.
Talented, committed, and with an open heart and soul—that is what all directors search for in a cast. And every one of these actors bring the building blocks of the cultural mosaic that makes up The Black Demon. I am thrilled, humbled, and lucky to have them take my image to the next level,” noted director Adrian Grünberg.
The Black Demon is a captivating survival thriller with a fantastic ensemble cast, spearheaded by the action master Adrian,” said Highland Film Group’s CEO Arianne Fraser. “This is a fresh and exciting take on the fabled deep-water predator, and we are thrilled to bring this film to the marketplace,” added COO Delphine Perrier.
Fernanda Urrejola is known for the role of María Elvira, wife of Diego Luna’s character Miguel in Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico.” The Chilean actress’s credits include Clint Eastwood’s Cry Macho, Sony Pictures TV’s “Party of Five” reboot, and Netflix’s Blue Miracle starring Dennis Quaid.
Julio Cesar Cedillo recently starred in Netflix’s acclaimed film The Harder They Fall alongside Idris Elba, Regina King, and Delroy Lindo. His many credits include Netflix’s hit series “Narcos: Mexico”; Cowboys & Aliens starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Olivia Wilde; Denis Villeneuve’s award-winning Sicario and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones.
Director 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.
Lucas is repped by WME, Liebman Entertainment, and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof & Fishman. Grünberg is repped by A3 Artists Agency, Inclusion and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof & Fishman. Urrejola is repped by APA and Vision Entertainment; Cedillo is repped by Spellbound Entertainment and BBA Talent; Solórzano is repped by Tina Randolph Contogenis at Eris Talent Agency, Inc; Jorge A. Jiménez is repped by AFA Prime Talent; Ariel is repped at Osbrink Agency and Valor Entertainment Group; Flores is repped by Margrit Polak and Micki Caruso McGinnis at Margrit Polak Management; Méndez is repped by MGMT Entertainment and Héctor Jiménez is repped by Carlos Meza Yazpik at Panea MGMT and Carlos Carreras at CESD Talent.
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. HFG’s domestic distribution arm, The Avenue, is targeting a 2023 release.