THE GRAY MAN’S DARING CAST
Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans +
The Marvel Studios directing duo the Russo Brothers (Anthony and Joe Russo) will bring the story of The Gray Man, a freelance assassin and former CIA operative to Netflix.
Joe also co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (who wrote Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame). It is based on the noirish spy novel by Mark Greaney (who took over writing the Jack Ryan books following Tom Clancy’s death in 2013), that has been compared to the Bourne series.
They are hoping to kick-off a franchise with the movie that starts shooting in Europe this spring. With a $200 million budget, it will be Netflix’s most expensive movie to date, according to Deadline Hollywood.
Director Christopher McQuarrie (of “Mission: Impossibles” Rogue Nation and Fallout, Jack Reacher, and an Oscar winner for The Usual Suspects screenplay) had been attached to a version of the project back in 2016, according to Sony Pictures.
Let’s take a look at the cast:
Chris Evans
Who he’s playing: Lloyd Hansen, an antagonist who pursues The Gray Man across the globe
What else you know him from: He’s America’s ass across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s also the villinaous Ransom Drysdale in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery homage, Knives Out.
Rege-Jean Page
Who he’s playing: Unconfirmed, but likely someone British.
What else you know him from: The breakout star of Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Alfre Woodard
Who she’s playing: Maurice Cahill, an old friend of the Gray Man
What else you know her from: The Oscar nominated actress, musician and activist has been a screen and TV presence for decades. She was the voice of Queen Sarabi in the 2019 photorealistic remake of The Lion King.
Billy Bob Thornton
Who he’s playing: Unconfirmed. Probably someone untrustworthy.
What else you know him from: He’s Bad Santa and Sling Blade (earning an Academy Award nod for the performance and a win for the script) Recently, he was the boozy but brilliant lawyer Billy McBride in Amazon’s Goliath series.
Ana de Armas
Who she’s playing: Unconfirmed, but likely a love interest.
What else you know her from: The Cuban-born actress was the eruptive Marta Cabrera in Knives Out, and the e-girl Joi in Blade Runner 2049. She’ll also be a Bond Girl (Paloma) in No Time to Die —currently scheduled for an October 2021 release, but we’ll see.
Ryan Gosling
Who he’s playing: Court Gentry (aka the Gray Man)
What else you know him from: The Canadian leading man in La La Land, Crazy Stupid Love, and The Notebook. He was the mysterious everyman in K in the sci-fi noir Blade Runner 2049.
