Operation Fortune: Guy Ritchie film opens internationally, domestic release still in question

Directed by Guy Ritchie, the action comedy film Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre was filmed in 2021 and boasts a cast that includes Jason Statham, Hugh Grant, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, and Josh Hartnett. And getting U.S. distribution for this film is proving to be unexpectedly difficult. Tired of waiting for the U.S. side of things to get worked out, international distributors have gone ahead and released Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre to theatres in some countries this week, with the premiere taking place in Dubai last night.

Operation Fortune was originally supposed to receive a theatrical release from STX Entertainment in January of last year. But it was delayed while STX merged with Eros International plc., and was later bought out by Najafi Companies – after Lionsgate considered buying the company, but then dropped out of the running. Lionsgate had also considered releasing Operation Fortune in U.S. theatres, but in the last update we heard it was said that it would likely be heading for a streaming release.

Ritchie wrote the screenplay with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, crafting the following story: Super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). Reluctantly teamed with some of the world’s best operatives (Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone), Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood’s biggest movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to help them on their globe-trotting undercover mission to save the world.

Here’s hoping Operation Fortune‘s distribution issues will be resolved soon so we’ll know when we’ll have the chance to watch the movie in North America.

Are you interested in Operation Fortune? Check out the trailer in the embed at the top of this article and let us know if you want to see the movie (or if you have already seen it outside the U.S.) by leaving a comment below.

Ritchie has previously directed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; Snatch; Swept Away; Revolver; RocknRolla; Sherlock Holmes; Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; King Arthur: Legend of the Sword; Aladdin; The Gentlemen; and Wrath of Man.