AFM: Lionsgate Lands Gerard Butler’s ‘The Plane’

Lionsgate has boarded The Plane, Gerard Butler’s latest action vehicle that was launched at the ongoing American Film Market, taking rights for North America, plus Latin America, the U.K. and India.

CAA Media Finance handled domestic rights, while MadRiver International is looking after international.

The Plane — which unites Butler with Lionsgate, which released Angel Has Fallen — will see the actor play commercial pilot Ray Torrance, who, after a heroic job of successfully landing his storm-damaged aircraft in a war zone, finds himself caught between the agendas of multiple militia who are planning to take the plane and its passengers hostage. Written by JP Davis and Charles Cumming (Violence of Action) and based on Cumming’s book, the pic is set to go into production in 2020.

Producers are Di Bonaventura Pictures’ Lorenzo di Bonvaventura and Mark Vahradian; MadRiver Pictures’ Marc Butan and Ara Keshishian; and Butler and Alan Siegel under their G-BASE banner. 

Jason Constantine, president of acquisitions and co-productions, oversaw the deal for Lionsgate, along with executive vp acquisitions Eda Kowan and John Biondo, executive vp business and legal affairs.

Butler is repped by CAA and Alan Siegel Entertainment.