Guy Ritchie’s Spy Thriller ‘Operation Fortune’ Starring Jason Statham Releases On January 21

British director Guy Ritchie has been returning to his roots making more adult-focused action films with the gangster flick The Gentlemen and the thriller Wrath of Man, the latter seeing the filmmaker reunited with action star Jason Statham.

Statham and Ritchie shot a new spy movie last year during the pandemic and we have a huge update. Miramax has officially announced Five Eyes has been given the new title of Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre and will be released in theaters on January 21, 2022.

Operation Fortune was written by Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies.

The feature follows MI6 guns-and-steel agent (Statham) who is recruited by a global intelligence agency 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, 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. 

The cast also consists of Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elewes, Josh Hartnett, Hugh Grant, Peter Ferdinado, and rapper Bugzy Malone. Ritchie reunited with Wrath of Man/The Gentlemen crew members such as cinematographer Alan Stewart and production designer Martyn John.

We have to assume that Miramax is hoping Operation Fortune is the start of a franchise.

Jason Statham is about to begin shooting the next Expendables installment for Millennium Films and is attached to a new thriller, The Bee Keeper, for Miramax.

Guy Ritchie is currently developing a new WWII film at Paramount Pictures with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. An action pic that focuses on the first British commando unit. The script has previous drafts were penned by Arash Amel, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson. There is an expectation that Ministry could be next, if that comes together sooner rather than later.

Honestly, it seems like Ritchie is doing everything he can to avoid make Aladdin 2, which he’s been attached to for years now.

‘Mission: Impossible’ Sequels Add Cary Elwes, Indira Varma, Rob Delaney & Others To Cast – New Images Revealed

Writer/director Christopher McQuarrie has announced via Instagram another wave of actors joining the cast of Paramount’s Mission: Impossible 7 and Mission: Impossible 8. Those additions including Cary Elwes, Indira Varma (Game of Thrones, Obi-Wan Kenobi), Rob Delaney (Deadpool 2), Charles Parnell (The Last Ship), and British character actor Mark Gatiss (Sherlock).

McQuarrie posted a batch of images of the actors in what looks to be a scene from Mission: Impossible 7, I have to assume it’s some briefing scene (possibly presidential?).

The rest of the cast led by Tom Cruise includes Esai Morales, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, and Henry Czerny.

Mission: Impossible 8 was originally planned to shoot back-to-back with Mission: Impossible 7, but due to Tom Cruise’s promotional schedule for Top Gun: Maverick later this year means they’ll have to pause production between installments. It’s not the worse idea imaginable as the cast and crew has either been shooting or waiting to shoot for an entire year, as the blockbuster was one of the first films to halt production due to the pandemic.

An audio clip of Tom Cruise chewing-out crew members not adhering to COVID-19 protocols went viral late last year and a break might have a positive impact on everyone’s morale.

Mission: Impossible 7 is slated for November 19th, 2021 and Mission: Impossible 8 is set for November 4th, 2022.

SOURCE: CHRISTOPHER MCQUARRIE

Hugh Grant & Josh Hartnett Reuniting With Guy Ritchie For His Spy Thriller ‘Five Eyes’

Deadline has two new additions to the cast of Guy Ritchie‘s spy thriller formerly known as Five Eyes as Josh Hartnett is set for a role and Hugh Grant reportedly is also in talks. The pair of actors joining a cast that consists of Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elewes, and rapper Bugzy Malone.

The feature follows MI6 guns-and-steel agent (Statham) who is recruited by a global intelligence agency 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, 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. 

Josh recently worked with Guy and Jason on the armored car action flick Wrath of Man based on the 2004 French film Le Convoyeur. Hugh Grant working with Ritchie on The Gentlemen and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. previously.

Filming is said to be underway in Qatar and will eventually move to Turkey.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Guy Ritchie Spy Thriller Adds ‘The Gentlemen’s Bugzy Malone & Cary Elwes – Begins Shooting Tomorrow In Qatar

Deadline is reporting that director Guy Ritchie will begin shooting his spy thriller formerly known as Five Eyes tomorrow in Doha, Qatar and has added two more cast members.

The story follows MI6 guns-and-steel agent (Statham) who is recruited by a global intelligence alliance 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, 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.

Veteran actor Cary Ewles (The Princess Bride, Glory, Stranger Things, Saw) and rapper-turned-actor Bugzy Malone will join Jason Statham and Aubrey Plaza. The British rapper had a supporting role one of Colin Farrell’s boxing proteges in The Gentlemen.

They’re said to also shoot the film in Antalya, Turkey.

The Fives Eyes is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, which was founded back in 1941. This should give you an idea of the nationalities of the other characters in the film.

The original plan was to film the spy flick in Europe but given multiple lockdowns and unpredictable spikes of COVID-19 shooting in the Middle-East might be more welcoming to a foreign film crew.

We first reported the production team would include cinematographer Alan Stewart (Aladdin, Wrath of Man, The Gentlemen) and production designer Martyn John (Wrath of Man) both have a previously working relationship with Ritchie.

A release date is currently unknown.

SOURCE: DEADLINE