Serena van der Woodsen is poised to kick some ass and exact revenge. Variety reports that “Gossip Girl” alumna Blake Lively has signed on to topline “The Rhythm Section,” a spy thriller directed by Reed Morano.
A contemporary adaptation of Mark Burnell’s 2000 novel of the same name, “The Rhythm Section” sees Lively taking on the role of Stephanie Patrick, who is “on a path to self-destruction after the death of her family in an airplane crash — a flight that she was meant to be on,” Variety summarizes. “After discovering that the crash wasn’t an accident, her anger awakens a new sense of purpose as she becomes an assassin to track down those responsible.”
The project is being produced by “James Bond” producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli through their Eon Productions banner. IM Global is financing, with the company’s co-founder Stuart Ford exec producing alongside Greg Shapiro (“Zero Dark Thirty”) and Mark Burnell, the latter of whom penned the script.
“The Rhythm Section” is the first of four books in the “Stephanie Patrick” series, so there’s a major possibility that “The Rhythm Section” will be the first installment of a blockbuster franchise. It’s slated to kick off production this fall with shooting locations likely to include the United States, the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland.
In a post-“Wonder Woman” world, it seems like people may finally have more confidence in the potential of high-profile female-led movies helmed by women. The Patty Jenkins film now ranks as the highest-grossing live-action film ever directed by a woman.
“We are thrilled to be bringing Mark Burnell’s ‘The Rhythm Section’ to the big screen with our partners at IM Global,” Broccoli and Wilson said. “It is exciting for us to be working with the immensely talented team of director Reed Morano and actress who have a strong vision for this very compelling story driven by a female protagonist.”
Ford added, “In Stephanie Patrick, Mark has created a unique female heroine who turns so many of the current cinematic clichés surrounding so-called ‘kick-ass’ female leads on their head. To be bringing such a fresh, realistic, and bold international thriller to the big screen with EON Productions, Reed, and Blake is an exciting proposition for us all at IM Global.”
Best known for playing a glamorous Manhattan-based teen in The CW’s “Gossip Girl,” Lively found huge success with last summer’s “The Shallows.” The shark thriller grossed over $119 million worldwide on a budget of $17 million. “The Age of Adaline,” “Green Lantern,” and “The Town” are among her other big screen credits.
Lively’s upcoming projects include an adaptation of “Big Little Lies” author Liane Moriarty’s book “The Husband’s Secret,” a mystery about a woman who discovers her husband has been deceiving her, “A Simple Favor,” a Paul Feig-directed comedy about a mommy blogger, and “Bruised,” a drama about a mother and disgraced MMA fighter who’s at risk of losing her son to the authorities.
Morano is a serious contender for an Emmy nomination for her work on “The Handmaid’s Tale.” She directed the first three episodes of Hulu’s critically acclaimed adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s feminist dystopian story. The long-time cinematographer made her directorial debut with 2015's Olivia Wilde-starrer “Meadowland.”
Up next for Morano is an untitled drama starring Jeff Bridges and Diane Lane about a narcissistic violinist who is forced to move back in with his estranged wife, and “I Think We’re Alone Now,” a post-apocalyptic story toplined by Elle Fanning.
