It’s AFM time in Hollywood, and with it comes a flood of announcements that fall into one of three categories: real projects, projects that will never get made, and projects that will eventually get made, but not with the big-name stars mentioned in press releases that are sent straight to Deadline.
The Assetfeels like a real project, if only because it has an actual start date in place. It’s an action-thriller that will starMichael Keaton,Samuel L. JacksonandMaggie Q, an actress who has never once left an impression, but clearly has value overseas. She and Keaton will play rival assassins (okay…) who share a mysterious past from Vietnam, and travel the globe competing for high-profile contracts. When her mentor (Jackson) is murdered, the two assassins must form an uneasy alliance and return to Vietnam to find his killer.
Based on that logline, it’s obvious that Jackson will have a limited role, and I don’t even know if he’ll share any scenes with Keaton’s character – which would be a shame, because it’d be fun to watch those two play off each other. On the bright side,The Assethails fromCasino RoyaledirectorMartin CampbellandThe EqualizerscribeRichard Wenk, so hopefully those two will find a way for Keaton and Jackson to share some screen time together.
Arthur Sarkissian(Rush Hour) will produceThe AssetwithMoshe Diamant(The Hurricane Heist) andRob Van Norden(Rambo: Last Blood). Executive producers includeAvi Lerner,Trevor Short,Boaz Davidson,Jeffrey Greenstein,Jonathan Yunger,Gareth West,Christa CampbellandLati Grobman, whileLonnie Ramatiwill serve as a co-executive producer. Millennium Media will begin shopping the project at AFM and production will begin on Jul 11, 2025, with filming slated to take place in London, Bucharest, and DaNang, Vietnam.
Keaton will segue intoThe Assetafter wrappingAaron Sorkin’s dramaThe Trial of the Chicago 7, which is currently filming in advance of its release next September. Meanwhile, Jackson will soon be seen starring opposite his MCU buddyAnthony Mackiein Apple’s original dramaThe Banker. He also returns for Millennium’s sequel toThe Hitman’s Bodyguard, which addsSalma Hayekto the mix this time around.
Best known for her role in theDivergentfranchise, Maggie Q will soon be seen in Blumhouse’sFantasy Island, which Sony will release this coming Valentine’s Day. She’s no stranger to big action movies, having appeared in both theMission: ImpossibleandDie Hardfranchises. She’s represented by Untitled and ICM Partners, the latter of which also reps Keaton and Jackson, who is managed by Anonymous Content. Deadline broke the news out of AFM.
Keaton’s involvement inThe Assetforced him to drop out of theJohn McAfeecomedyKing of the Jungle, which just sawZac Efronstep in forSeth Rogen. you may read more about that project byclicking here.
