Derrick Borte to direct the film shooting this fall
Vanessa Hudgens will join Mads Mikkelsen to headline the action spy thriller THE BLACK KAISER, directed by Derrick Borte (UNHINGED). Borte is to replace Jonas Akerlund who was previously announced. The film is written by Jayson Rothwell and based on the popular Dark Horse graphic novel Polar by Victor Santos. The film is set to shoot this fall.
In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mads Mikkelsen), the world’s most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers, and becomes their number one target.
THE BLACK KAISER is a Constantin Film/JB Pictures/Dark Horse Entertianment production and will be produced by Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer. Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment are also producing and Martin Moszkowicz and Mads Mikkelsen executive producing. XYZ Films will executive produce and will continue to sell worldwide rights at the upcoming Marché du Film in Cannes.
Hudgens is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, The Lede Company and Ziffren Brittenham LLP. Mikkelsen is repped by UTA, Art Management and Viewpoint. Borte is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency, Ensemble Entertainment, Narrative and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz PC.
About XYZ
XYZ Films is an independent studio whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. As a producer, financier, and distributor, the company is uniquely suited to identify talented filmmakers and bring their stories to life. XYZ recently expanded into talent management, working with a global roster of filmmakers. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. The company’s classic titles include THE RAID franchise, 2017 Sundance winner I DON’T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, Panos Cosmatos’ psychedelic revenge thriller MANDY, and Karyn Kusama’s THE INVITATION. XYZ’s current projects include Berlin competition title BLACKBERRY from director Matt Johnson which stars Glenn Howerton and Jay Baruchel which is currently in release from IFC Films, ASH starring Eiza González and Aaron Paul and to be directed by Flying Lotus, THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS PAST starring Liev Schreiber, THE LAST BACHELOR starring Seann William Scott, SEVEN VEILS starring Amanda Seyfried and directed by Atom Egoyan, Sundance selection RUN RABBIT RUN directed by Dana Reid and starring Sarah Snook, DANIELA FOREVER to be directed by Nacho Vigalondo and starring Henry Golding and Beatrice Gannò. The XYZ slate also includes Nick Cassavetes’ GOD IS A BULLET starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maika Monroe and Jamie Foxx, NOCEBO directed by Lorcan Finnegan with Eva Green and Mark Strong, and ACCUSED from BAFTA-nominated BOILING POINT director Phillip Barantini. XYZ is in post-production on the Netflix Original HAVOC, directed by Gareth Evans and starring Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker.
About Constantin Film
Constantin Film has been synonymous with quality and success for over 40 years. It has played a crucial role in establishing German cinema both nationally and internationally. Between 1977, when Bernd Eichinger established the company, and today, Constantin Film has emerged as the most successful independent production and distribution company in the German media industry. Constantin Film’s operations include German and English language motion picture theatrical production, theatrical distribution, home entertainment distribution, licensing and television production.
Constantin Film’s diverse slate includes box office hits and award-winning films alike, ranging from comic book to literary adaptations, historical dramas, action and genre, among them THE NEVERENDING STORY, THE FANTASTIC FOUR film franchise, THE NAME OF THE ROSE, NOWHERE IN AFRICA, DOWNFALL, PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER, THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX, POPE JOAN, THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS, FACK JU GOEHTE 1-3, three of the biggest ever German box office hits, the RESIDENT EVIL film franchise and MONSTER HUNTER.
In the ever growing field of TV and streaming platforms, Constantin Film has also been stepping up its television production business, including BLACK BEAUTY for Disney+, global hit series SHADOWHUNTERS, PERFUME and WE CHILDREN FROM BAHNHOF ZOO, Canneseries winner THE ALLEGATION as well as THE PALACE, THE CONFERENCE and numerous other shows for major streaming platforms and broadcasters in Germany and around the world.
ABOUT DARK HORSE MEDIA
Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, who added an entertainment arm
several years later. In 1994, Dark Horse Entertainment produced its first major film successes,
The Mask and Timecop, both based on Richardson’s creations. The company has since produced
over three dozen films and series, winning two Emmys for Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
for HBO. Recent projects include Dark Matter and Resident Alien for SyFy and The Umbrella
Academy, Polar, and Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles for Netflix. In 2022, Dark Horse
Media, LLC became part of Embracer Group AB, forming the tenth operative group and
strengthening the company’s transmedia capabilities.