K.T Simpson
Canine action thriller Shadow, which is inspired by true events, is gearing up with Colombian helmer Antonio Negret (Overdrive) attached to direct an original screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Daniel Negret. Fellow Colombians Juan Pablo Raba (Peppermint, Freelance, Netflix’s “Narcos”) and Natalia Reyes (Terminator: Dark Fate) have been tapped to lead the cast alongside Kate Del Castillo (Bad Boys for Life) and Esai Morales (Mission: Impossible 7&8, Netflix’s “Ozark”), who is in negotiations for his role. Renee Tab from Sentient Entertainment, Pierre Morel (Taken), Christopher Tuffin and Jaime Hernandez (Sound of Freedom) will produce. Andy Schefter, Michael & Jeeny Miller and Frank Kostenko will executive produce. The Sentient team is currently in post-production on Canary Black starring Kate Beckinsale and Rupert Friend.
The film will begin production in the fall in Colombia, with XYZ Films handling sales at the upcoming Marché du Film in Cannes.
Inspired by true events, the film centers around a real-life Colombian police dog named Sombra (Spanish for “Shadow”) who, after piling up hundreds of arrests, became the cartel’s public enemy #1 – resulting in a bounty being put on her head. After the cartel’s new leader sets a trap to abduct the dog, Sombra’s once reluctant handler must risk his life and career to save his partner.
In total, Sombra’s actions have resulted in 245 arrests and the seizure of 2,000 kilos of cocaine, having twice earned her the Wilson Quintero medal, an honor awarded for critical contributions to the fight against drug trafficking.
This is the third collaboration for Sentient, Morel and Raba, who had starring turns in their action-thriller Peppermint opposite Jennifer Garner, as well as the highly anticipated action-comedy Freelance opposite John Cena and Alison Brie which will be wide released by Relativity and Hulu this Fall.
“After having spent a great deal of time in Colombia, I became incredibly passionate about and committed to telling important and inspiring stories from a regional perspective with local stars like Juan Pablo & Natalia,” said Sentient president Renee Tab. “I’m looking forward to once again teaming up with long term collaborators Pierre Morel, and Antonio Negret (as well as his brother Daniel) to shape this true story into an action narrative inspired by a drug- sniffing German Shepherd named Sombra.”
