The 1993 action thriller Cliffhanger is getting a modern makeover, with Lily James (Mama Mia! Here We Go Again) and Pierce Brosnan (The World is Not Enough) heading into dangerous territory for a new take on the Sylvester Stallone classic.
Vertical has acquired U.S. rights to Cliffhanger, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Carry On), and is targeting a wide theatrical release in Spring 2027. The cast also includes Nell Tiger Free, Franz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf, Assaad Bouab, Suzy Bemba and Bruno Gouery.
This time, the action moves to the treacherous Dolomites, where legendary mountaineer Ray Cooper (Brosnan) runs a secluded luxury chalet with his daughters Naomi (James) and Sydney (Free). When a ruthless gang kidnaps Ray during a billionaire family's weekend getaway, Naomi must confront her fear of the mountains following a devastating climbing accident and use the unforgiving terrain to rescue her family.
Rather than simply recreating the original, the new Cliffhanger shifts the central action to James' Naomi, while Brosnan takes on the veteran mountaineer role. The 1993 film starred Stallone as mountain rescuer Gabe Walker, who becomes caught up in a deadly heist in the Rocky Mountains.
“Jaume Collet-Serra has created a relentless, visually stunning thriller that takes everything audiences love about the original and delivers it with a fresh, modern intensity,” Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey said in announcing the acquisition.
Written by Mark Bianculli and Melanie Toast from a story by Sacha Penn and Bianculli, Cliffhanger is produced by Lars Sylvest, Thorsten Schumacher, Joe Neurauter, Philipp Kreuzer, Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe.
Cliffhanger is expected to hit U.S. theaters in Spring 2027.