Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) is joining Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, Driven) for The Bricklayer movie, which is due to lay the foundation for production in March in Europe. Per Deadline‘s exclusive report, The Bricklayer movie finds someone blackmailing the CIA by assassinating foreign journalists and making it look like the agency is responsible. As the world begins to unite against the U.S., the CIA must lure its most brilliant – and rebellious – operative out of retirement, forcing him to confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy.
Millennium Media is producing with Gerard Butler after he and Eckhart teamed for the Has Fallen franchise. The film will shoot at Millennium’s new Nu Boyana Greece studio and the new Nu Boyana Bulgaria establishment. The Bricklayer movie boasts a script from Hannah Weg (Septembers of Shiraz, The Courier, The Beautiful and the Damned) and Matt Johnson (Into the Blue, Torque).
“The Bricklayer screenplay has the rare combination of well-layered characters, intricate plotting, and propulsive action. Having spent five years in China, I’m excited to be back making a high-caliber Hollywood action thriller. If there’s something I learned from my three Chinese movies, it is the importance of deeply felt emotion. In Aaron Eckhart I have found a first-class dramatic actor, who also has the physicality and charm to bring this iconic character to life,” said Harlin.
“This is an incredible opportunity to develop a strong new IP into a potential franchise. Renny Harlin knows how to execute big action, and Aaron Eckhart is such a versatile actor who will bring great depth to this character. We couldn’t be more excited to launch this film with our talented team,” said Tanner Mobley, Vice President of Development for Millennium Media.
Previously, and by that I mean a whole 10 years ago, Butler himself was attached to star in The Bricklayer project. That role has since gone to Eckhart, with Butler assuming the role of a producer on the film. With Millennium hoping that The Bricklayer movie has franchise potential, this could be the first block that stacks sequels brick-by-brick. We’ll be sure to keep our eye on this project and will let you know when more details reinforce our excitement for what’s to come.