Amber Midthunder & Alan Ritchson Set For Action Franchise Hopeful ‘Painter’ From ‘John Wick’ Scribe Derek Kolstad; FilmNation Launching For AFM
EXCLUSIVE: FilmNation Entertainment’s production label Infrared is lining up would-be action franchise-starter Painter, which will star rising U.S. actress Amber Midthunder (Prey, Legion) alongside Alan Ritchson (Reacher).
Painter is written by Derek Kolstad (John Wick) and is set to be directed by Logan, Avatar and Road House stunt co-ordinator Garrett Warren, the well known stunt specialist in Hollywood who is now turning to directing.
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FilmNation will launch sales on the project at next week’s American Film Market (AFM) in Las Vegas where it will be one of the hot packages.
Painter centers on a young woman, trained from a young age, who must employ every skill in her arsenal to rescue her father after he is kidnapped.
Pic is produced by Ritchson, Drew Simon (Infrared), Kolstad, Josh Adler (Circle of Confusion), and Dan Spilo (Industry Entertainment). Infrared is financing.
FilmNation is handling Painter’s international sales and co-repping domestic rights alongside CAA Media Finance. The deal was negotiated on behalf of FilmNation by Alison Cohen and Ben Ryzak, with Dan Fox representing Alan Ritchson, Puneet Layal (CAA) representing Garrett Warren, and Darren Trattner representing Amber Midthunder.
“Painter will be a seminal action hero film, making Midthunder into this generation’s Sarah Connor (Terminator),” enthused Drew Simon, Infrared President of Production. “We loved Kolstad’s high-octane script, and we know with Garrett Warren at the helm this film will kickstart an exciting new franchise in the world of action.”
FilmNation is currently in the awards race with Palme d’Or winner Anora and Ralph Fiennes starrer Conclave. The company launched production label Infrared in 2022 with a focus on genre fare. Infrared’s first completed feature Novocaine, a thriller starring Jack Quaid and Midthunder, was acquired by Paramount and will be released in March 2025.
Warren is repped by WME. Kolstad is repped by UTA, Circle Management + Production, and Behr Abramson Levy Johnson. Midthunder is repped by CAA, Corner Booth Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Ritchson is repped by WME, Dan Spilo of Industry Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson.
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