Action iconLiam Neesonis taking his particular set of skills to the Rocky Mountains, signing on to star in a newaction-thrillerentitledHard Powder. The project is currently being sold at the Berlin Film Festival market later this month, which is expected to be a “hot ticket” item, now thatLiam Neesonhas come aboard. Production is currently scheduled to start this coming March in Banff, Alberta and other locations throughout Canada.
Varietyreports thatLiam Neesonwill play Nels, an “upright snowplow driver,” who was recently awarded the Citizen of the Year award by the Colorado ski town he lives in. His world gets turned upside down when his young son is killed by a “powerful local drug kingpin.” Here’s the official synopsis forHard Powder, which seems to indicate thatLiam Neeson’s Nels will be using his snowplow as one of of his primary weapons.
“Fueled by an unwavering drive for vengeance and armed withheavy machinery, this unlikely hero sets out to dismantle the cartel with extreme prejudice, and he’s not stopping until he gets to the top of the food chain.”
Variety adds that Nels' quest for vengeance sparks a “turf war” between a Native Americanmafia bossand another character known as the Viking, described as “a fastidious gangster who wears Tom Ford suits,” who is also a vegan, drives a Tesla and murders people. The story is said to climax in a “final showdown that leaves almost no one unscathed.” StudioCanal will fully financeHard Powderand distribute it in its home territories of U.K., Germany, France and Australia/New Zealand, while selling rights other international territories, including the U.S., at the Berlin Film Festival. Here’s whatRon Halpern, Studiocanal EVP international production and acquisitions, had to say in a statement.
“Liam Neesonplays an ordinary man driven to extraordinary lengths, a hero in the mold of [Clint Eastwood} inUnforgivenorBruce WillisinDie Hard. (He will bring) a slightly more modern spin (with) a touch of wry humor. Bringing a new perspective to the lone underdog character was what attractedLiam Neesonfrom the very beginning.”
Hans Petter Moland(A Somewhat Gentle Man) is set to directHard Powder, from a script byFrank Baldwin(The WarriorsTV series).Ron Halpernadded that directorHans Petter Molandis aiming for a, “cool tone and classic archetypes,” which fall in line with films such asGet ShortyandOut of Sight, which were both based onElmore Leonardnovels.Liam Neesonmost recently starred as the Monster inA Monster Callsand inMartin Scorsese’sSilence. He will next be seen inThe CommuterandFelt, a biopic of FBI agentW. Mark Felt, a.k.a. “Deep Throat.”
