What’s the status of people like Mel Gibson in Hollywood? Gibson was seemingly persona non-grata during the #MeToo movement, a sort of belated punishment for his past tabloid transgressions that hit in 2009 (racist, sexist, anti-semitic rants the actor has never been able to shake off), but Hollywood is fickle. #MeToo started in earnest in 2017. Just one year prior, Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge” was nominated for six Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Andrew Garfield. His appearance in “The Continental” seemed to rankle critics and audiences—even though, like it or hate it, he was the most interesting part of the so-so “John Wick” spin-off—but he still apparently has a viable career behind the camera as a director. See his new film, “Flight Risk.”
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Starring the trio of Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace, the film is a suspense thriller centered on a pilot (Wahlberg) who transports an Air Marshal (Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar, and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem.
Written by Jared Rosenberg, “Flight Risk” is produced by John Davis, John Fox, Bruce Davey, and Mel Gibson. The vast array of executive producers on the project includes Alex Lebovici, Jenny Hinkey, Ryan D. Smith, Natasha Stassen, Allen Cheney, Christopher Woodrow, K. Blaine Johnston, Christian Mercuri, Petr Jákl, Vicki Christianson, Nick Guerra, Russell Hollander, Jon Huddle, Patrick Josten, Walter Josten, Jordan Wagner.
You don’t have to love Gibson to know that he can direct at least, films like “Apocalypto” in particular show a real sense of thriller/action craft, so there’s at least that.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In this high-stakes suspense thriller, Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg (Actor in a Supporting Role, 2006 – The Departed) plays a pilot transporting an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery) accompanying a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem.
Lionsgate presents “Flight Risk” in association with Media Capital Technologies / Hammerstone Studios, an Icon production, and a Davis Entertainment Company production. The film is set for an October 18, 2024, release date. Watch the first trailer below.