Bruce Willis is set to headline director John Pogue’s (The Quiet Ones) upcoming action thriller Wake. The announcement was made today by International Film Trust’s (IFT) co-founder Michael Benaroya and IFT’s President Christian de Gallegos, who will handle international rights to the film. Wake‘s screenplay is written by Chris Borrelli (upcoming The Vatican Tapes) with revisions made by Pogue.
Set to start shooting in Cleveland on February 16, Wake tells the story of Red Forrester (Willis), a sociopath with no fear, who returns to his childhood home on a remote island for his brother’s wake. When the island comes under siege, Red must save the very family that banished him from his ancestral home years ago.
The project is being produced by Michael Benaroya (Lawless, Margin Call) of Benaroya Pictures, Tobin Armbrust (A Walk Among the Tombstones, Begin Again), David Alpert (“The Walking Dead,” American Ultra) and Chris Cowles (The Numbers Station, Autobahn). CAA is representing the domestic sales rights.
“With a history of writing suspenseful and tension driven films, John Pogue is an imposing director to watch and we are really excited to be working on WAKE with him and Bruce – who, himself, is a force to be reckoned with,” said Benaroya.
“‘Wake’ is the perfect project for Bruce Willis to lead as the action star we know and love,” said de Gallegos. “His character will excite worldwide audiences and give us another taste of the big screen legend who remains amongst the top box office performers of all time.”
Willis, arguably best known for playing John McClane in five Die Hard films, will next be seen in Barry Levinson’s Rock the Kasbah opposite Bill Murray and Zooey Deschanel.
Bruce Willis is repped by CAA. John Pogue is repped by Circle of Confusion and Verve.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
