Lionsgate has acquired U.S. and U.K. distribution rights to IM Global’s “Hummingbird,” the latest Jason Statham thriller, the studio announced Friday.
The film stars Statham as a war veteran trying to diguise himself as an upper class Londoner. When his girlfriend is killed, he must embrace his violent past and track down the murderers.
It will be the directorial debut for Steven Knight, the Oscar-nominated writer of “Eastern Promises.” Oscar-nominated producer Paul Webster (“Atonement,” “Eastern Promises”) is also on board, as is Oscar-winning cinematographer Chris Menges (“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,” “The Reader”).
Production begins Monday in London.
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Lionsgate has distributed past Statham projects like "The Transporter 3" and the "Crank" films.
IM Global has a trio of British thrillers in its pipeline at the moment, including "Blood," which stars Paul Bettany.
"They have assembled an incredibly talented group of filmmakers around a taut story that promises to be a great vehicle for Jason Statham," Lionsgate’s President and co-COO Steve Beeks said in a statement.