Renny Harlin Takes On Directing Duties For Action Film ‘The Beast’ Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Joel Kinnaman & Guy Burnet; Filming Underway In Spain

Andreas Wiseman
·3-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Before filming got underway last month on action film The Beast, Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger) came aboard as director, taking over from the previously announced James Madigan (The Meg second unit director).

The team is halfway through an eight-week shoot in Madrid and Spain’s Canary Islands. As we previously revealed, Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Joel Kinnaman (Suicide Squad) and Guy Burnet (Oppenheimer) are starring.

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The project had been due to start in early September but was pushed back a little due to LED stages needing further tech prep, we’re told. No reason was given for Madigan’s exit.

The film’s title refers to a presidential limousine nicknamed “The Beast” by the Secret Service. In the movie, when a militia of unidentified hostiles coordinates a coup against the U.S., the president (Jackson) uncovers the extent of The Beast’s highly classified offensive capabilities.

Keith Kjarval (Tin Soldier) is producing through his Unified Pictures banner alongside Wayne Marc Godfrey (Wind River) and Nicki Cortese (Ricky Stanicky) for Bright White Light. Fifth Season (Ambulance), John Logan Pierson (It Ends with Us), Rob Van Norden (Rambo: Last Blood), and Peter Berg (Mile 22) are also producing. The film’s script was written by Umair Aleem (Kate). WME Independent is handling sales.

Industry vet Harlin, known for a string of action pics including Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger and Skiptrace, is coming off breakout Lionsgate horror The Strangers and is now in post on chapters two and three of that franchise.

“Having been a fan of Renny’s classic films as far back as I can remember and now helping him reteam with Sam Jackson — who together created numerous audience pleasers — and then adding the stunning artist that is Joel Kinnaman, I have no doubt this film will become yet another classic from this duo,” said producer Keith Kjarval.

Harlin said today: “Sam is not just one of those screen icons, but also a dear friend, and joining forces for another action extravaganza has me inspired beyond belief. Joel Kinnaman is another magnetic talent and a good friend as well. Once in a while a new writer with a fresh voice comes along and Umair Aleem has given us a script bursting with original action, and characters who draw from a deep well of emotions. I know that this team is up to something truly special and ready to unleash The Beast.”

Exec producers are Unified’s Ben Ruffman; Johanna Harlin; Alexis Garcia; Chase Vergari; Ibrahim Mohammed; Chris Bremble; Eric Handler; Dru Davis and Christian Juptner for Opus, alongside Molly C. Quinn, Matthew M. Welty and Elan Gale for QWGmire; Gianni Benvenuto and Dominic Benvenuto for Marksx Media; and Herbert L. Kloiber, Malte Ludin and James Copp for Night Train Media. Aleem is also an EP. Orca 3 and Nostromo’s Adrian Guerra are co-producing.

Renny Harlin is represented by UTA.

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