“Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul has signed on to star in psychological thriller “The Midnight Pool” for James McTeigue (“V for Vendetta,” “Breaking In”).
The film — which comes from producers Traction, McTeigue and Gramercy Park Media, which is also financing — is heading to Cannes, where it’s being introduced by newly-launched company Stoic alongside CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group.
The 2022 Black List script comes from Jonathan Easley (“Red Right Hand”) and centers on Johnny Black (Paul), a jaded journalist whom, after a personal tragedy, is lured into the shadows of an elite, exclusive society, where the pursuit of a career-defining story becomes a descent into illusion, manipulation and altered realities.
“The moment Midnight Pool landed on my desk I knew I had to sit down with James,” said Paul. “The world created by Jonathan Easley really stayed with me long after I put the script down. The idea of James holding the reins to tell this story got me extremely excited to tackle this world with him. We sat down in my backyard and spoke for hours about the love of filmmaking. After that meeting it was very clear we both wanted to lean in. I am such a huge admirer of James and I feel truly blessed to be on this journey with him and the rest of the team.”
Producing the feature film are “Red Right Hand’s” Jason Tamasco and Zak Kristofek for Traction, James McTeigue, and Ford Corbett and Nathan Klingher for Gramercy Park Media. Executive producers are Mason Eways, Keith Danko, Joshua Harris, Mark Fasano, Brandon Burrows, Nat McCormick, and Danny Gusman. CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group will represent the North American sales while Stoic is representing the international sales rights. Filming is slated to shoot on location in Europe later this year.
“The Midnight Pool felt like the culmination of my career — a gripping psychological drama with mind-bending visuals and action,” said McTeigue, who added that “when Aaron Paul agreed to play Johnny Black, I knew we had something truly special.”
“Jason and I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring to life with the extraordinary talents of James McTeigue and Aaron Paul,” said Kristofek on behalf of Traction. “James’s sharp eye for tension and psychological depth, combined with Aaron’s magnetic intensity, makes this an exceptionally exciting collaboration. This is a film that will keep audiences on edge — and thinking long after the credits roll.”
Alongside his three-time Emmy winning role as Jesse Pinkman on “Breaking Bad,” Paul is also recognized for “Black Mirror” and “Westworld.” Other credits include “El Camino,” “Need for Speed,” and “BoJack Horseman.”
McTeigue is best known for his directorial debut “V for Vendetta,” which he followed with “Ninja Assassin.” His other films include “The Raven” and “Survivor.” More recently he produced “Matrix Resurrections” and the commercially successful crime drama “Breaking In,” starring Gabrielle Union. He has more than thirty credits to his name spanning “The Matrix” quadrilogy, “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones,” “Moulin Rouge” and many others. His work in TV includes two seasons of the genre defining “Sense 8,” the political thriller “Messiah” and the historical action series, “Marco Polo”.
McTeigue is repped by Gersh, LBI, and Jackoway, Austen, Tyerman, Wertheimer, Mandelbaum, Morris, Bernstein, Trattner, Auerbach, Hynick, Jaime, LeVine, Sample & Klein.Paul is repped by UTA. Easley is repped by Gersh and Traction. Tamasco and Kristofek are repped by CAA and Bruns Brennan Berry Pikulin & Jacobs PC.
