Coming off from the successful premiere of Hulu’s Happiest Season, Deadline brings word that Aubrey Plaza has set up her next project as she officially signs on to star opposite Jason Statham in director Guy Ritchie’s forthcoming international spy thriller which was formerly titled Five Eyes.
Plaza gained recognition for her role as April Ludgate in the popular NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation which ran on-air for seven seasons from 2009-2015. Her notable film credits include: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, The Little House, Ingrid Goes West, Child’s Play, and the recently released Black Bear.
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In the film, MI6 guns-and-steel agent Orson Fortune (Statham) is recruited by a global intelligence alliance ‘Five Eyes’ to track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology that threatens to disrupt the world order. Reluctantly paired with CIA high-tech expert Sarah Fidel, Fortune sets off on a globe-trotting mission where he will have to use all of his charm, ingenuity, and stealth to track down and infiltrate billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds.
The film will be directed by Ritchie from a script written by Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies (The Gentlemen, Wrath of Man), with revisions by Ritchie. This project marks the latest collaboration between Ritchie and Statham, who have previously worked together on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and Revolver as well as the upcoming action thriller Wrath of Man.
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Five Eyes will be produced by Bill Block for Miramax, which is also fully financing the film. Ivan Atkinson also serves as producer. STXfilms has secured worldwide distribution rights to the film. STX will distribute directly in the US, UK, and Ireland, and STXinternational will launch sales to foreign buyers at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. STXfilms had great success earlier this year with Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, which grossed $115 million at the worldwide box office.
