Summary

  • James Franco and Tommy Lee Jones have been cast in the action thriller The Razor's Edge, which begins production June 25.
  • The film follows a mob hitman facing a perilous mission after his daughter's kidnapping.
  • After being cancelled in 2018, Franco is trying to make a comeback with international films from France and Cuba and dark thrillers like The Razor's Edge and The Policeman.

Producer Corey Large (Paradise City, It Follows, The November Man) announced today, May 13, that actors James Franco and Tommy Lee Jones have been cast in the action thriller The Razor’s Edge. Demian Lichtenstein (3000 Miles to Graceland) is directing the film from a screenplay co-written by Lichtenstein and Vance Duplechin. Red Sea Media will be handling international sales and will debut the film for buyers at the upcoming Marché du Film in Cannes. Production starts June 25 in Georgia.

The synopsis for The Razor's Edge reads as follows:

After a mob hitman vows to leave his deadly past behind, he faces an impossible choice when his daughter is kidnapped and the woman he loves becomes a target of the syndicate. He is forced to undertake one final, perilous mission while being pursued by an assassin even more lethal.

“I’m excited that we have signed the superbly talented actors James and Tommy Lee to bring The Razor’s Edge to the big screen," said Corey Large in his announcement. "They are perfectly suited to embody the protagonists in Demian’s script. We cannot wait to begin filming this taut thriller next month with an assist from our seasoned executive producer, Kirk Shaw.” Large and his production company, 308 Enterprises, will also be producing Assassination, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Al Pacino and Shia LaBeouf.

The Slow Return of James Franco

We haven't seen a film with James Franco in quite some time, with 2019's Arctic Dogs and Zeroville being his last released projects after the actor was involved in sexual misconduct allegations and lawsuits. Five women accused Franco of inappropriate sexual behavior when he was their acting coach. He was also involved in a class-action lawsuit against his acting studio, which cost him nearly $1.5 million, plus an $894,000 settlement to two of his students.

Like Johnny Depp with Jeanne du Barry, however, Franco is making a comeback via international films and smaller productions. He will star in the French action movie The Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventure, and will play Fidel Castro in the Cuban film, Alina: La Hija Rebelde. He will also star opposite the infamous Vincent Gallo in The Policeman, a production which has faced its own set of allegations. Time will tell if The Razor's Edge will be part of a Franco comeback.

The Razor's Edge is executive produced by Kirk Shaw (The Hurt Locker, Papa Hemingway in Cuba, Extraction). BondIt Media Capital is financing with Matthew Helderman (Clerks III, Book of Love), Luke Taylor (Dual, Redemption Day), and Jordan Nott (Assassination, Cold DeckI).

“We’ve worked with Corey on over a dozen projects throughout the years and always appreciate his ability to get projects made in many different industry climates. We’re excited for another adventure here with Corey and his team,” added Bond It Capital co-founder CEO Matthew Helderman. Watch this space for more information about the film.