The newly revamped Paramount Pictures has made a noteworthy move in the competitive film landscape by acquiring High Side, a highly pursued feature package from celebrated director James Mangold and prominent actor Timothée Chalamet.
This project marks a reunion between Mangold and Chalamet, following their collaboration on the critically acclaimed Academy Award-nominated biopic, A Complete Unknown. Mangold is set to direct High Side, a motorcycle thriller featuring Chalamet in the lead role.
Producers Peter Chernin and David Ready will represent Chernin Entertainment alongside Mangold, reinforcing the project’s strong backbone.
High Side is based on an original, unpublished narrative by Jaime Oliveira, who will also adapt the screenplay. Industry insiders describe the film as a fusion of Heat and Hell or High Water, focusing on a former MotoGP racer whose life dramatically changes after a career-ending crash.
Chalamet’s character, unable to escape his turbulent past, is pulled back into a world of high-speed stakes and relentless danger when he is approached by his estranged brother, who is being pursued by the FBI to recruit him for a series of daring bank heists involving superbikes.
Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs of Paramount Pictures, expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership: “We’re thrilled to be in business with visionary artists like James and Timothée, along with exceptional collaborators like Peter and David at Chernin. What Jaime has created reflects the bold, original storytelling we’re dedicated to championing at Paramount, and we couldn’t be more excited to hit the ground running with High Side.”
In a statement, Mangold added, “David, Dana, and Josh demonstrate a genuine commitment to original, story-driven filmmaking on the big screen, making it easy for Timothée, Peter, and me to align on this project. Timothée is a trusted collaborator, a generational artist, and someone I deeply respect. I look forward to diving into this creative endeavor together.”
Further details about the film’s production timeline and additional casting are anticipated as the project progresses.
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at Hollywood Reporter.