Acclaimed filmmaker Gerard McMurray (The First Purge, Burning Sands, The Twilight Zone), will write and direct Michael B. Jordan’s high-octane action thriller The Silver Bear from Lionsgate, Nickel City Pictures and Jordan’s Outlier Society.
The film reunites McMurray with Black Panther and Creed superstar Michael B. Jordan, with whom he teamed on the critically-acclaimed, 2013 Sundance Grand Jury/Audience Award-winning Fruitvale Station as a producer.
“Fruitvale Station changed our lives. Six years later I’m reuniting with Michael in 2019 and directing him in one of the most exciting and intelligent kick-ass action projects Hollywood and Lionsgate has cooking. It’s beyond dreams,” said McMurray. “Michael is an amazing, one-of-a-kind talent. He will bring a chilling and unnerving edge, authenticity and precision to the character of Columbus. The Silver Bear is an incredible hunt-and-chase story about the most skilled and feared hitman in the underworld and I have a unique vision for how I want to bring that to life. I am beyond honored and excited to be working with such supportive partners as Outlier Society, Nickel City Pictures and Lionsgate on my next film.”
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“Every step forward on The Silver Bear has been the perfect marriage of the material to the creative talent involved. We could not be more amazed by the way this project has come together, especially with Gerard McMurray’s bold, creative vision for the movie and Michael B. Jordan’s immense skills as an actor and a producer,” added Lionsgate Motion Picture Group President Nathan Kahane. “We are confident the right team is in place to do something very special with Derek Haas’ action-packed, suspense-filled novel and are thrilled to be collaborating with daring filmmakers like Gerard, Michael and the team at Nickel City Pictures. As we re-energize our slate with films like this, Lionsgate intends to be a home where artists can bring and make their very best movies.”
The Silver Bear is a film adaptation of Derek Haas’ best-seller about Columbus (Jordan), the most feared and respected hitman in the criminal underworld. The series of novels was optioned by Nickel City Pictures, who hired Frank Baldwin to adapt the first book and attached Jordan to star and produce before bringing the package to Lionsgate. Vishal Rungta, Mark Fasano and Ankur Rungta will be producing for Nickel City.
Jordan is starring and also producing under his Outlier Society banner. Derek Haas, Michael Garnett, and Tobias Weymar will serve as executive producers. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group SVP of Production & Development James Myers and Director of Production & Development Dana Gills will oversee the film for the studio.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
