Mel Gibson and Elisha Cuthbert will help Josh Duhamel pull off the perfect crime in “Bandit.”
The action thriller is directed by Allan Ungar (“Uncharted” starring Nathan Fillion), and is written by Kraig Wenman. The movie is based on author Robert Knuckle’s best-selling novel and journalist Ed Arnold’s interviews with Gilbert Galvan Jr, who went by the name Robert Whiteman when he was dubbed the Flying Bandit for successfully pulling off 63 bank and jewelry heists during a notorious crime spree.
“Bandit” follows the career criminal (Duhamel) after he escapes from a U.S. prison and crosses the border into Canada, where he assumes a new identity. After falling in love and getting married, he claims to take a job as a traveling security consultant, but his daring crimes continue. After he turns to lifetime gangster Tommy (Gibson) for an investment, his career becomes more complicated and he gets embroiled in the biggest heist in Canadian history, one that puts him at the center of a cross-country manhunt.
“Bandit” is produced by Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman of Yale Productions and Eric Gozlan of Goldrush Entertainment. Highland Film Group is on board to handle international sales of “Bandit.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with this incredible cast to tell this action-packed story,” said Yale Levine and Beckerman. Gozlan added, “Bringing this incredible Canadian story to international audiences is a thrill, and the story couldn’t be in better hands with Allan Ungar at the helm and our incredibly talented cast.”
Gibson’s credits include the “Mad Max” and “Lethal Weapon” franchises, as well as the Oscar-winning “Braveheart.” He recently appeared in “Boss Level” and earned an Academy Award nomination for directing “Hacksaw Ridge.” Upcoming films include “Father Stu,” co-starring Mark Wahlberg.
Cuthbert recently wrapped production on “The Cellar” starring opposite Eoin Macken. Other credits include “The Ranch,” opposite Ashton Kutcher, “Happy Endings” and “24.” On screen, she starred in “The Girl Next Door” and “Old School.”
Duhamel currently stars in the Netflix original series “Jupiter’s Legacy” based on the comic series of the same name. He made his directorial debut last year with “The Buddy Games,” which he also co-wrote, co-produced and starred in. Next up, he can be seen in “Shotgun Wedding” opposite Jennifer Lopez.
Duhamel will be executive producing alongside Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier of Highland, in addition to Shaun Sanghani, Ryan Winterstern, Luke Taylor, Matthew Helderman and Tyler Gould of BondIt Media Capital, Richard Lott, Kraig Wenman, Richard Switzer, Ian Niles, Lee Broda, Colby Colte, Jason Kringstein, Scott Levinson, Lisa D’Ambrosio, Peter R. Anske, Dr. Faisal Mahmood and Packer Morley.
Gibson is repped by APA and Brecheen, Feldman, Breimer. Cuthbert is repped by ICM Partners and John Carrabino Management. Duhamel is repped by ICM Partners, John Carrabino Management, and Viewpoint. Ungar is repped by World Builder Entertainment, Verve, and Marios Rush.