Gerard Butler and Hayley Atwell are set to star in the upcoming action film Empire City, which will focus on a tense hostage crisis scenario. Production is slated to commence in October 2023, although the project currently lacks a distributor. Sales for the film will continue next week at the American Film Market, providing an opportunity for potential distribution deals.
The official synopsis reveals that the story unfolds within the iconic Clybourn Building in New York. When a hostage crisis erupts, firefighter Rhett, portrayed by Butler, must navigate through the chaos alongside his NYPD wife, Dani, played by Atwell. Together, they confront the challenges posed by the crisis while attempting to rescue the captives trapped inside.
Behind the Scenes of Empire City
“This film promises to deliver high-stakes action and emotional depth,”
said director Michael Matthews, known for his work on Love & Monsters. The screenplay is co-written by Brian Tucker and S. Craig Zahler, both recognized for their compelling storytelling. The production team includes Butler and Alan Siegel from G-BASE, along with Marc Butan from MadRiver Pictures and Paul Currie. Executive producers are Quirin Berg and Alexander Janssen from Leonine Studios.
Butler has recently been featured in Lionsgate’s Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, and he is set to reprise his role as John Garrity in the sequel Greenland 2: Migration. Atwell, on the other hand, has just completed her role opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. There are also rumors regarding her return as Peggy Carter in the anticipated Avengers: Doomsday film.
As production for Empire City gets underway, anticipation builds for what promises to be an exhilarating addition to both Butler’s and Atwell’s filmographies. The combination of their talents, along with the creative team’s vision, aims to pull audiences into a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of a high-stakes hostage scenario.