Category: News

With the first costumed-up shot of Scott Eastwood in the Suicide Squad ensemble revealed just days ago, buyers in Cannes will have the chance to take a longer look at Clint Eastwood‘s son in action.

Announced Tuesday, U.K. based sales and distribution banner Carnaby has acquired the worldwide sales rights for the Eastwood-starring action-thriller Mercury Plains, and will be launching the film at Marche du Film.

Directed and written by Charles Burmeister, the film follows a troubled young man (Eastwood) who runs to Mexico only to find himself recruited into what he believes is a group of paramilitaries fighting the drug cartels. Isolated at a desert camp and unsure of his motives, he proves himself by becoming the top soldier, but as the police close in realizes that he must escape back to the U.S.

Alongside Eastwood, Mercury Plains stars Nick Chinlund (Con Air, Training Day) and Angela Sarafyan (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Down – Part 2). Currently in post-production with delivery expected for Q4, the film has been produced by Houston Hill (Virgin Alexander, The Devil’s Punchbowl) and Eric Watson (Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain).

“Mercury Plains is the land just across the border with Mexico, where beautiful deserts and their shimmering mirages mix with the blood, money, and drugs of the cartels,” said Burmeister. “Across this epic landscape, I wanted to use Scott Eastwood as ‘Mitch’ to explore the iconic image of the young American man – strong, soft-spoken, reluctant to violence, and yet eager to prove himself. And then I put him in the most difficult setting possible, where modern laws did not apply. I wanted a film filled with action, but told in a classical cinema style, where the characters are as indelible as the rugged horizon.”

The deal with Carnaby was secured by the company’s joint CEOs, Andrew Loveday and Sean O’Kelly. Carnaby will be screening extended promo footage to buyers in Cannes. Burmeister said that it “seemed perfect to partner with a young, rising company like Carnaby to market a film with a young, rising star in Scott Eastwood.”

“I’m enormously proud to be working alongside such a talented team on this picture,” added O’Kelly. “The hard hitting and compelling storylines have a universal appeal which will resonate with audiences around the world. We’re excited to bring this into the market.”

Also on Carnaby’s slate is the Jonathan Rhys-Meyers spy thriller Damascus Cover, the Iggy Pop-starring Blood Orange and Simon West‘s upcoming action-comedy Salty.

He’s followed his famous father into the movie business, and as well as a career choice Clint Eastwood has also passed on his good genes to son Scott.

The 29-year-old actor was spotted for the first time on the set of his new movie Suicide Squad on Sunday, looking the spitting image of his 84-year-old dad in his younger years.

Scott’s good looks charmed fans as he chatted to a group of girls ahead of his gruelling night shoot for the eagerly anticipated 2016 movie.

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The resemblance between Scott, who’s mother is Jacelyn Reeves, and his actor and director father was hard to miss as he shot scenes for his latest big screen feature.

Dressed in a t-shirt and some colourful shorts, Scott talked with fans as he chowed down on some food in preparation for a long night in front of the camera.

Later, the up and coming star looked ready for action in his army combats as he strolled around set, assault rifle in hand.

Scott Eastwood shows off his real-life bull riding skills

Scott’s movie career has really taken over in the past year, with a part in the Brad Pitt 2014 movie Fury leading to meatier roles in Suicide Squad and the eagerly anticipated Edward Snowden biopic.

While his career is only just starting to take off, Scott is well used to the world of movies, telling People Magazine last month that he was always ‘being dragged around movie sets’ by his dad when he was younger.

Scott, who used his mother’s surname when he was first starting out, has appeared in a number of his father’s films, but admitted in an interview earlier this year that Clint hasn’t thrown him any favours.

Explaining that he’s auditioned for nearly every one of his father’s directorial efforts, including his latest American Sniper, Scott told Variety that when he’s been rejected he doesn’t even get a phone call, quipping ‘it’s nothing personal.’

Scott’s army of fans also have his dad to thank for his brooding good looks. As well as passing on those genes, Scott told People that ‘my dad was always super-active and got me in the gym at a young age. He wanted me to be health-conscious. Healthy body, healthy mind; that’s what he preached to me.’

Director David Ayer raised the excitement level among fans when he tweeted the first official Suicide Squad cast photo from the set on Sunday.

In the cast shot, captioned ‘Task Force X assembled and ready. #SuicideSquad,’ Scott is seen clasping a huge machine gun to his chest flanked on one side by Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) and on the other by Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).

The DC Comics adaptation follows the group of supervillains imprisoned in an asylum who are offered clemency by a secret government agency in return for carrying out covert black ops.

The group photo also included stars Will Smith, Adam Beach, Jai Courtney, Karen Fukuhara, Joel Kinnaman, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Jay Hernandez.

Scott Eastwood is all smiles at top of The Empire State Building