Benedict Cumberbatch to Star in ‘Blood Mountain’

Sergei Bodrov (“Mongol,” “Seventh Son”) will direct, and Lawrence Bender (“Pulp Fiction,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Kill Bill”), Nicola Horlick and James Gibb are producing. Skady Lis of Germany’s Getaway Pictures will serve as a co-producer on the film.

Jonathan W. Stokes penned the original script, with revisions by John Romano.

The film follows a private military contractor whose special forces team is ambushed and killed during a covert raid, forcing him to personally escort one of the world’s most wanted terrorists over hostile terrain in order to bring him to justice. With a bounty at stake and insurgents and rival mercenaries hunting them, the two find themselves facing not only their enemies, but each other in their fight for survival.

Principal photography is slated to begin in April in Morocco.

Shaun Redick is exec producing alongside Rachel Green of Derby Street Films and Brooklyn Weaver of Energy Entertainment.

Silver Reel will finance the film with executives Claudia Bluemhuber and Ian Hutchinson also serving as exec producers on the project.

UTA Independent Film Group helped arrange financing for the project.