At long last, Lily James’ Cliffhanger has tethered itself to a distributor. According to Deadline, Vertical is taking the U.S. rights to Jaume Collet-Serra’s reboot of 1993’s Cliffhanger starring Lily James and Pierce Brosnan. The acquisition comes after several stumbles to the silver screen, but fans of edge-of-your-seat action can rest easy now that Cliffhanger’s targeting a Spring 2027 theatrical release.
“Cliffhanger is the perfect combination of an iconic title, a world-class filmmaker, an incredible cast, and edge-of-your-seat spectacle that demands to be experienced on the big screen,” Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey told Deadline. “Jaume Collet-Serra has created a relentless, visually stunning thriller that takes everything audiences love about the original and delivers it with a fresh, modern intensity. With Lily James and Pierce Brosnan leading an exceptional cast, we’re thrilled to bring this next chapter of Cliffhanger to theaters in 2027.”
Unpacking the $100 Million Gamble
While a troubled path to theaters can spell disaster, test screening buzz suggests the actioner will be worth the wait. Because the film was independently financed, its reported $100 million production budget was covered through international pre-sales—meaning US distributors are only paying for domestic rights. Following financial instability at former distributor Row K, Vertical stepped in, picking up domestic distribution rights for a reported $12 million alongside a $20 million commitment for marketing and prints (P&A).
A High-Altitude Survival Tale
The Cliffhanger reboot follows Ray Cooper (Pierce Brosnan), “a seasoned mountaineer who runs a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with his daughter. When a weekend excursion with a billionaire’s son turns violent, they are targeted by a group of kidnappers. As the attack unfolds, Ray’s daughter, Naomi (Lily James), still haunted by a tragic climbing accident, escapes into the mountains and must fight for survival against both nature and her pursuers.” The reboot is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a script by Ana Lily Amirpour, Sasha Penn, Mark Bianculli, and Melanie Toast.
Lily James Reaches New Heights
I’m excited to see more of the Cliffhanger reboot beyond the few images released, but it certainly sounds like Lily James went all out for the film. In fact, the actress soon developed a passion for mountain climbing.
“Oh my God, I had the time of my life,” James previously said about the intense physical shoot. “It was so hard. I did five hours of climbing a day for many weeks. I was on mountains nonstop. I fell completely in love with it. It’s the most mind-body-soul activity, and I’m a addict now. I did all my own climbing, and I got real strong. I was just pounding press-ups between every take.”
That physical dedication carries directly into her confidence for the finished cut.
“I’m really proud of Cliffhanger,” James added. “We’re in the edit and getting it ready, and I’m super hopeful. It is such a cool re-imagining, and while it’s really unexpected at times, it keeps all the gripping glory of the original.”
Are you excited about Cliffhanger? The original is a stone-cold classic that still holds up, but who’s to say a fresh coat of chalk won’t make the film grip new fans tightly? We’re keeping an eye on this one!
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