Editorial Staff
Mel Gibson and Frank Grillo will reunite with “Boss Level” director Joe Carnahan on the latter’s new thriller, “Leo From Toledo”.
The pic, says Deadline, follows a former killer for the Kansas City mob, now hiding in witness protection, who has trouble with his memory. When his past catches up with him and he becomes a hunted man, he has little time to save the one thing he has left – his estranged daughter and granddaughter.
Based on an original script from Dan Casey, “Leo from Toledo” will be produced by Lawrence Grey of Grey Matter Productions, alongside Carnahan and Grillo under their WarParty Films banner.
MadRiver International is handling international sales at AFM this week.
“I’ve seldom had more fun than sitting in a writer’s room with producer Lawrence Grey and writer-director Joe Carnahan, while we spit balled on this story. It’s a tight, fast thriller, but its quirky observations had me in stitches,” said Gibson on the project.
“Leo is the kind of movie I love to make, it’s funny and heartfelt with a ton of great action. Being able to work with Mel, and Frank again is a real gift. It rarely happens that you get to make films with the people you love and respect, so I consider myself blessed. I feel like Leo is a ‘return to form’ of sorts for Mel. The script allows him to be both funny and dramatic at different turns and I can’t wait to see what he does with that character,” said director Carnahan.
MadRiver International’s Kimberly Fox added: “This is one we can’t wait to bring to market; it is the perfect mix of comedy and action that is needed in the marketplace today and something we know will excite audiences worldwide.”
