EXCLUSIVE: United Artists isn’t done adding to an already loaded slate of films, as sources tell Deadline that Scott Stuber’s company and Amazon MGM Studios have given the green light to an untitled thriller with Denzel Washington set to star Christopher McQuarrie on board to direct. Scott Barkan and Gregg Zehentner wrote the screenplay.
The film will be released in theaters on October 1, 2027.
The plot centers on a former police detective serving a life sentence who is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Granted compassionate release with six months to live, he returns home to the ex-daughter he left behind and a grandson he never knew existed. He only wants to redeem himself and forget his dark past, but his dark past has not forgotten him.
McQuarrie will also produce alongside Heather McQuarrie with Stuber and Nick Nesbitt, who are producing through United Artists; Joseph Restaino for Hungry Bull Productions; Reza Moheet and Norman Aladjem for Mainstay Entertainment; Katia Washington; and Tommy Harper. Hungry Bull’s Tony Stopperan, Mainstay’s Tim Honigman and Joe Guest will executive produce
As for Washington, the double Oscar winner had planned to reunite with Antoine Fuqua this fall for the Netflix epic about the former Carthaginian general Hannibal. These projects were put on hold when pre-production was halted due to budgetary issues. The shutdown allowed Washington to refocus on other projects, with this film moving to the top of the list following meetings with McQuarrie that ultimately led to Washington giving the green light. Producers will now look to cast the role of Washington’s daughter.
More recently, Washington returned to the Broadway stage in Othello alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, and starred in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest. He will next star in the Netflix series The catch (formerly titled Here comes the flood) alongside Robert Pattinson and Daisy Edgar-Jones. This film is expected to be released in 2027.
After a decade of redefining the modern action spectacle with Mission: ImpossibleOscar winner McQuarrie returns to the crime genre he helped define with films like Jack Reacher, The way of the gun And The usual suspects. He recently helped lead the final four Mission: Impossible films including the most recent Mission: Impossible – The final settlement.
With UA, Stuber is now in production on Lizard musicthe upcoming collaboration between Dwayne Johnson and Benny Safdie. He is also in post-production on a new version of Highlander with Henry Cavill, and is preparing that of Michael Mann Heat 2 with Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale, and The Mandela catalogthe analog horror adaptation with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment that will be directed by series creator Alex Kister.
In partnership with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artist Equity Independent Pictures, Hungry Bull recently completed production on Downstream with Jessica Biel, Garrett Hedlund and Jake Lacy.
Mainstay’s next step on the big screen is the genre-bending vampire western The sun always sets in the west at Lionsgate, slated for a 2027 debut date. On television, Mainstay recently produced The matchmaker with Patti Stanger on the CW.
Washington is represented by WME. McQuarrie is represented by CAA and Greenberg Glusker. Barkan and Zehentner are represented by Mainstay Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.
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