Captain America: The Winter Soldier’sFrank Grillo and Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman have joined the action filmPanamafrom The Highland Film Group.
According to the press release,Frank Grillois set to star as James Becker, a rugged, decorated ex marine in 1989 Panama. When his former commander Stark, played by the greatMorgan Freeman, sends him undercover to execute a high-value deal with untrustworthy adversaries, Becker is thrust into the chaos of the local civil war.
He must fight assassins, court femmes fatales and negotiate with the enemy to complete his mission. With his former commander by his side, Becker perseveres against all odds in hopes of making it home alive.
Panamais inspired by true events and comes from a script written by Daniel Adams (The Lightkeepers,The Golden Boys) and William R. Barber. Adams will also helm the project as director while Barber leads as executive producer alongside producers Michelle Chydzik Sowa and Michelle Reihel.
The production team has hit the ground running with two powerful stars that are no stranger to action films. Frank Grillo is the spitting image of a marine having made multiple appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as an undercover Hydra agent infiltrating Shield turned villain Crossbones. He most recently appeared in the epicAvengers: Endgamefor a brief but satisfying appearance in the other elevator scene.
He also starred inthe Purgeseries, the dramasWarrior,The GreyandZero Dark Thirty. It was recently announced that he will feature alongside other Marvel family members Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek inThe Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Grillo will also lead the upcoming police-centric Screen Gems filmBlack and Blue, as well as appear in Joe Carnahan’s action thrillerBoss Levelfrom Highland Film Group. The film stars Mel Gibson and Naomi Watts and follows a retired special forces officer stuck in a time loop on the day of his death.
His co-lead is considered one of the greatest performers of all time. Freeman is a staple of the film industry having appeared in more than 120 projects including such monumental films asDriving Miss Daisy,Glory,The Shawshank Redemption,Se7enand Clint Eastwood’sMillion Dollar Baby. His calm and collected demeanor carried his scenes in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy. Freeman can most recently be seen as the president inAngel Has Fallen. Throughout his career so far, he has been nominated for five Academy Awards and took home the win for his performance as Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris inMillion Dollar Baby.
Other action films fromHighland Film GroupincludeEscape Plan 2: Hadesstarring Sylvester Stallone and Dave Bautista,Final Scorewith Bautista,Machine Gun Preacherwith Gerard Butler,Bravenwith Jason Mamoa. Aside fromPanama, some of the projects on the company’s slate includeSmiley Face Killers,Inheritance,Happy LifeandTunnels. Principal photography onPanamais set to begin in November. This news comes to us fromVariety.
