Copyright Deadline
Following her latest pic Christy bowing at the AFI Fest last week, Sydney Sweeney is looking to deliver another knock out punch with an upcoming film and partnering with an A-list director to help deliver the blow. Sources confirm to Deadline, that Apple Original Films is developing That Man From Rio, a new adventure comedy feature that is set to star Sweeney, with Justin Lin set to direct. The film is a modern take on the 1964 French film of the same title with Lin producing through his Perfect Storm Entertainment along with Academy Award-nominee Kevin Walsh, who will produce through The Walsh Company under his first-look deal with Apple TV. Chase Palmer penned the script. In addition to starring, Sweeney will serve as executive producer. The original pic starred Jean-Paul Belmondo and Françoise Dorléac and follows a young private on military leave comes to the rescue of his girlfriend who’s been abducted by thieves and brought to Rio de Janeiro. An extravagant adventure ensues. The original was inspiration to many directors of the era who grew up watching including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas who would later credit it as one of the inspirations for the Indiana Jones character. Sources say Walsh was also a massive fan of the film for years and had been pursuing the rights to make it for some time. After landing those rights, Lin and Sweeney were high on the project and said yes and the role of the title character can expect a lot of attention from plenty of A-listers across town. The film marks the latest collaboration for Apple Original Films and Sweeney, who stars in the dramatic thriller Echo Valley alongside Academy Award-winner Julianne Moore, now streaming globally on Apple TV. The project also reunites Walsh with Sweeney who produced Echo Valley. Under his production banner, Walsh has produced Apple Original Films including upcoming Being Heumann from Academy Award-winner Siân Heder, as well as The Instigators and Ridley Scott’s acclaimed and multi-Academy Award-nominated feature Napoleon. Sweeney is repped by Paradigm and Lin is repped by CAA.
