The Hitman’s Bodyguard director Patrick Hughes has launched a new company with writing partner James Beaufort and filmmaker Greg McLean.
Huge Film, which will have an office in Melbourne, has three films in the immediate pipeline, including the previously announced action sci-fi War Machine, which Hughes is writing, directing and producing for Lionsgate.
There is also a reimagining of Gareth Evans’ Indonesian cult classic The Raid for Netflix, to be produced by Michael Bay and XYZ Films, and executive produced by Evans and Range Media Partners.
Set in Philadelphia’s drug-infested ‘Badlands’, the story follows an elite undercover DEA task force as it climbs a ladder of cartel informants to catch an elusive kingpin.
Hughes will direct and co-write the script with Beaufort, with whom he is penning the final installment of the Hitman’s Bodyguard franchise.
It comes after he completed post-production on action-comedy The Man From Toronto, which stars Kevin Hart, Woody Harrelson, Kaley Cuoco, and Ellen Barkin, and will be released in August 2022.
The Melbourne office signals a return to where it all began for the director, who made his debut feature Red Hill in Victoria in 2010.
Hughes said his intention with the new business was to build a company locally that creates large-scale, high concept movies for international audiences, adding that now is the “perfect time” to do so.
“For the first time in my career, Australia’s location incentives are globally competitive, so making big-budget action movies on my home soil is now a viable reality.”
McLean, who will serve as an executive producer on the new venture, agreed.
“Australia is an incredible place to make movies with an abundance of unique creative talent both behind and in front of the camera,” he said.
“With the awesome slate Patrick has lined up, as well as several exciting original projects in the pipeline, I’m thrilled to be joining Huge Film.”
Beaufort said he was excited to take his partnership with Hughes “to the next level”.