Billy Magnussen (No time to die, Game night, Bridge of Spies) will make his feature film debut with the survival thriller The ridge.
Magnussen also stars in the film alongside Lamorne Morris (Fargo, Woke up), Chace Crawford (The boys, Gossip Girl) and Jordan Firstman (you people, Rot in the sun). Produced by Mandalay Pictures (Ben Affleck’s Sky), Highland Film launches international sales in Cannes.
Written by Mike Anderson, John Clavier and Will Lowell, from a story by Magnussen, Anderson and Clavier, The ridge follows Dez (Morris), a sensitive city dweller who travels to Wyoming with his friends (Crawford and Firstman) to meet his fiancé’s brother – and real outdoorsman – Grady (Magnussen). When Grady puts Dez to the test, the two men find themselves at odds, and they become involved in an explosive feud that causes their truck to crash and tumble off a ridge. Leaving the wounded men in the wilderness and fighting against the harsh elements, they must put aside their differences and work together to make it out alive.
“After years spent in front of the camera, I am thrilled to be able to put everything I have learned on the table as I direct this project that is close to my heart, along with the wonderful group of people at Mandalay Pictures and Highland Film . Group,” Magnussen said.
The film is produced by Jason Michael Berman and Jordan Moldo of Mandalay Pictures and Magnussen of HappyBad Bungalow, in association with Bron. The film is executive produced by Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier of Highland Film Group, Shane Andries and Anne Hollister of HappyBad Bungalow, Aaron Gilbert and Jared Kramer.
“The ridge is an intense and suspenseful survival thriller with an amazing cast led by Billy Magnussen, who brilliantly captures the tension between the rugged outdoorsman and the urbanite as they fight for their lives in the unforgiving wilderness,” said Arianne Fraser, CEO Highland Film Group, whose current roster also includes Joe Carnahan’s survival thriller Not Without Hope, the high-concept horror Rosario starring Emeraude Toubia, and sci-fi thriller The Astronaut starring Emma Roberts and Laurence Fishburne. “We are thrilled to be working with producers Jason Berman and Jordan Moldo, who have a proven track record and are the guiding force behind films like Sky starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.”
Magnussen is represented by UTA, Anonymous Content and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern; Morris is represented by Entertainment 360, CAA and Myman Greenspan; Crawford is represented by CAA, Relevant and Gretchen Rush; Firstman is represented by WME, All My Friends Inc. and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
