Harsh Vardhan
Samuel L. Jackson and Henry Golding are set to return to Bel Paese for a spy thriller! The filming of ‘Head Games’ will commence in Italy in October. Anthony Mandler is directing the film based on a screenplay by Colin Liddle.
The plot revolves around Jacob Dalton (Golding), who lands a dream job with a world-renowned chef. However, when tech billionaire Graham Caldwell (Jackson) offers him a lucrative position as his private chef in Greece, he accepts the offer. Unbeknownst to Graham, Jacob is covertly working for his son, Niles Caldwell, to steal groundbreaking brain technology. At the Greek villa, the spy realizes the task is more complex due to tight security, making the mogul’s trust essential for access. Meanwhile, Jacob discovers that Graham’s tech can vividly recreate memories. But the darker side reveals the potential for mind control. Realizing he might be manipulated, the chef plans a risky escape.
Mandler made a name for himself in the film industry after beginning his career directing music videos for singers such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Lana Del Rey. His recent project, the Western drama ‘Surrounded,’ tells the story of Mo Washington, a former Buffalo soldier traveling west to claim a gold mine. Her journey becomes perilous when her stagecoach is ambushed, leaving her responsible for guarding a dangerous outlaw as his gang attempts to free him. The film features performances by Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, and Michael Kenneth Williams.
Mandler also directed ‘Monster,’ starring A$AP Rocky and John David Washington, a crime drama about a 17-year-old film student from Harlem whose life is turned around when he is charged with murder, leading to a complex legal battle.
Mandler expressed his excitement about the upcoming spy thriller, stating, “I couldn’t be more excited to bring this brilliant script to life. ‘Head Games’ is a propulsive story that pushes the boundaries of what we know as reality and what could ultimately become fiction before our eyes. The buildup and ultimate unraveling of these characters is both a metaphor for our culture today as well as a foreshadowing to what’s to come.”
Jackson portrayed Dan Lawson in ‘Damaged,’ in which his Chicago detective travels to Scotland to join forces with a local cop to investigate the return of a serial killer whose crimes mirror an unsolved case Lawson worked on in the United States five years earlier. The actor also appeared as Alfie in Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle.’ His recent credits include ‘The Marvels’ and ‘The Kill Room.’
Golding played Freddy Alvarez in ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,’ a period film that centers on a group of British soldiers carrying out covert operations against German forces during World War II. He also appeared in the drama film ‘Downtown Owl’ as Vance Druid. Golding’s upcoming projects include ‘The Old Guard 2’ and the sequel to ‘A Simple Favor.’
Italy, with its stunning landscapes, has served as the backdrop for films such as Golding’s ‘Assassin Club’ and Jackson’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle.’
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