Wild Bunch will bring to the Cannes Fest market Jean-François Richet’s “Blood Father,” starring Mel Gibson, produced by Why Not Productions and Chris Biggs.
“Blood Father” is similar to “The Taken” and “Non-Stop,” both with Liam Neeson, and “The Gunman,” starring Sean Penn. Produced by Joel Silver as character-driven action thrillers, they have ranked as best sellers in the last two years.
Erin Moriarty, who played Woody Harrelson’s daughter in HBO’s “True Detective,” and Ryan Dorsey (“You’re the Worst”) co-star.
Set to roll from May in New Mexico, with Richet directing from a screenplay by U.S. novelist Peter Craig, who co-wrote Ben Affleck’s “The Town,” “Blood Father” stars Gibson as an ex-con forced to step in and help his estranged 16-year-old daughter when drug mobsters threaten to kill her.
Wild Bunch co-founder Vincent Maraval described it as “a tale of redemption, a la ‘Gran Torino’ meets ‘Taken.’” Picture could mark a sizeable comeback for Gibson
“Blood Father” is part of Wild Bunch’s powerful Cannes slate, which includes Mark Osborne’s French-produced toon blockbuster “The Little Prince,” an adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic novella, Mikael Marcimain’ film and mini-series “Gentlemen” and “Gentlemen & Gangsters,” a thriller centering around the flamboyant and charismatic Morgan brother. Wild Bunch will also be shopping Kim Farrant’s thriller “Strangerland” with Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes.
With “Blood Father” and “The Little Prince” on its lineup, Wild Bunch is rolling into Cannes with two of the most market-friendly movie types currently favored by international buyers: Cast-driven thrillers and upscale family entertainment.
Wildd Bunch has movies playing in the Official Selection at the Cannes Fest or in parallel sections, including Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Search,” Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Luc Godard’s “Goodbye to Language,” Ken Loach’s “Jimmy’s Hall,” Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home,” and Gabe Polsky’s documentary “Red Army,” a special screening. Isao Takahata’s animated fairy tale “The Tale Of The Princess” will play at Directors’ Fortnight.
