Ericson Core (Point Break, Invincible) has been tapped to direct the thriller The Claim, written by Academy Award winner Damien Chazelle, for producers Scott Clayton of Oceanside Media and Route One Entertainment’s Russell Levine.
Casting has commenced for the suspenseful thriller, which centers on a single father with a criminal background who must uncover the whereabouts of his kidnapped daughter while fighting the mysterious claims of another couple who insist that the child is theirs. Oceanside optioned the rights to the Black List thriller. Production is slated to begin this year.
Earlier this year, Christian Mercuri launched his multi-faceted financing, production and sales company, Capstone Group, which will fully finance the picture with Oceanside Media. Mercuri will executive produce the feature along with David Haring.
Core previously directed the reimagining of Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, starring Edgar Ramirez and Luke Bracey, for Warner Bros., and Disney’s true-story sports drama Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg. But before taking a seat in the director’s chair, he established himself as the cinematographer of such films as The Fast and the Furious, which earned him AFI’s Cinematographer of the Year award, Marvel’s Daredevil, Payback starring Mel Gibson, and the crime thriller One Eight Seven starring Samuel L. Jackson.
“Ericson has an inimitable level of skill behind the camera as a director and cinematographer. Under his masterful direction and keen eye for captivating storytelling, and Chazelle’s gripping screenplay, ‘The Claim’ has all the elements to be a powerful and enthralling theatrical experience,” stated Clayton.
“Scott and I have been looking for a project to produce together for quite some time. When the opportunity to collaborate on ‘The Claim’ came about, it was an obvious partnership for us,” said Mercuri.
“Ericson embraces the emotional elements of the script which sets it apart from other character-driven thrillers,” said Levine. “This exceptional script is the master work of a gifted screenwriter.”
Jay Stern and Chip Diggins are also producers on the project. Chris Lytton will serve as Executive Producer and Route One’s Sophia Dilley will co-produce.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
