# Cliffhanger (2027 film)
**Cliffhanger** is a 2027 action-thriller film, a reimagining of the 1993 [Sylvester Stallone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sylvester-stallone) film of the same name, directed by [Jaume Collet-Serra](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaume-collet-serra) and starring [Pierce Brosnan](https://www.edgepedia.org/pierce-brosnan), Lily James, and Nell Tiger Free. Set at a luxury chalet in the Dolomites, it follows a mountaineering family caught up in a kidnapping. The film had a market screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 and, after a turbulent distribution history involving the collapse of its original U.S. distributor, is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in early 2027.[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/) • [3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) • [4](https://screenrant.com/cliffhanger-remake-release-window-delay-confirmed-vertical-sylvester-stallone/) • [9](https://www.screendaily.com/news/row-k-acquires-action-remake-cliffhanger-starring-pierce-brosnan-lily-james/5209307.article)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Reimagining of the 1993 Sylvester Stallone film, which grossed over $255 million worldwide and received three Academy Award nominations[3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) • [5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) |
| Director and writers | Jaume Collet-Serra; screenplay credited variously to Ana Lily Amirpour, Sasha Penn, Mark Bianculli, and Melanie Toast (see below)[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) |
| Principal cast | Pierce Brosnan as Ray Cooper, Lily James as Naomi, Nell Tiger Free as Sydney, with Franz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf, Assaad Bouab, Suzy Bemba, and Bruno Gouery[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/) |
| Setting | A secluded luxury chalet in the Dolomites[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) |
| Reported budget | $100 million[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) |
| U.S. release | Conflicting reporting: February 24, 2027 with Neon per Collider and Rotten Tomatoes; spring 2027 wide release targeted by Vertical per Deadline[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cliffhanger) • [3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) |
| Festival premiere | Toronto International Film Festival, 2025[4](https://screenrant.com/cliffhanger-remake-release-window-delay-confirmed-vertical-sylvester-stallone/) |
## Origins and development
The project began as a continuation of the 1993 film. In 2023 it was reworked into a legacy sequel, with Ric Roman Waugh set to direct and Sylvester Stallone reprising his role as Gabe Walker. Neither was involved the following year, and the project became a reboot.[4](https://screenrant.com/cliffhanger-remake-release-window-delay-confirmed-vertical-sylvester-stallone/) Stallone had been expected to return, but he exited only weeks before production was due to begin in 2024 amid reported creative differences; the screenplay was rewritten and the cast replaced.[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/)
**New cast and director.** In October 2024, Deadline announced that [Lily James](https://www.edgepedia.org/lily-james) and Pierce Brosnan would star in the reimagining, with Jaume Collet-Serra directing. The film was a Rocket Science production in partnership with Thank You Pictures and Supernix, with James and Gala Gordon's Parodos also producing.[2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/) In September 2025, a sequel to the reimagining was reported to be in development.[4](https://screenrant.com/cliffhanger-remake-release-window-delay-confirmed-vertical-sylvester-stallone/)
**Distribution turmoil.** The film had a market screening at TIFF 2025 and was initially scheduled for release on August 28, 2026, but its release details changed frequently afterward.[4](https://screenrant.com/cliffhanger-remake-release-window-delay-confirmed-vertical-sylvester-stallone/) • [9](https://www.screendaily.com/news/row-k-acquires-action-remake-cliffhanger-starring-pierce-brosnan-lily-james/5209307.article) The distributor Row K, which had positioned [Cliffhanger](https://www.edgepedia.org/cliffhanger) as the anchor of its 2027 slate with a nationwide theatrical opening, imploded financially.[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) Neon's Decal label was reported at Cannes 2026 to be acquiring the film but backed out, and in September 2026 Vertical took U.S. rights for about $7 million, the label's biggest pick-up to that point.[3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/)
## Cast and characters
Pierce Brosnan plays [Ray Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-cooper), a seasoned mountaineer who runs a secluded luxury chalet in the [Dolomites](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolomites) with his daughters. Lily James plays Naomi and [Nell Tiger Free](https://www.edgepedia.org/nell-tiger-free) plays Sydney.[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) The supporting cast includes Franz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf, Assaad Bouab, Suzy Bemba, and Bruno Gouery.[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/)
The characters are new to the franchise rather than returning figures from the 1993 film, which starred Stallone as rescue climber Gabe Walker; the 2027 film replaces that cast entirely after the 2024 overhaul.[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/)
## Plot
The film is set high in the Dolomites, where Ray Cooper runs a luxury chalet with his daughters Naomi and Sydney. After a weekend excursion with a billionaire's son turns violent, Naomi escapes into the mountains and fights kidnappers in a struggle for survival.[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/) Rotten Tomatoes' synopsis centers the story on a mountain climber who must save her father and sister from a gang of kidnappers, and [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) describes a mountain guide and his daughter's alpine climbing business in the Italian Alps facing a tragic event as dangerous foes emerge.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cliffhanger) • [7](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1441251/)
Unlike the 1993 original's mountain-rescue hostage story, the new premise places the family at the center of the chalet business itself, with the daughter as the pursued protagonist.[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger)
## Production
The film is produced by Rocket Science in partnership with Thank You Pictures and Supernix, with Parodos (Lily James and Gala Gordon) also producing; the producer roster includes Lars Sylvest, Joe Neurauter, Thorsten Schumacher, Philipp Kreuzer, Neal H. Moritz, and Toby Jaffe.[2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/) • [1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) • [3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) Rocket Science handles international sales under a partnership agreement with Studiocanal, and CAA Media Finance represents North American and Chinese territories; Amirpour and Collet-Serra executive produce.[2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/)
James described the shoot as "exhilarating" and spoke of learning from the climbing community during production.[2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/) The reported budget is $100 million.[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/)
## By the numbers
The reported $100 million budget makes the reimagining a large-scale theatrical bet for its distributor; the 1993 original earned more than $255 million worldwide and received three Academy Award nominations.[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) Vertical's reported acquisition price of about $7 million for U.S. rights is small relative to that budget, and the label described it as its biggest pick-up yet.[3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) Collider reported a planned release across approximately 3,000 U.S. theaters.[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) The film runs 2 hours.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cliffhanger)
## Release and reception
The release schedule has shifted repeatedly. Following a market screening at TIFF 2025, the film was first dated for August 28, 2026.[4](https://screenrant.com/cliffhanger-remake-release-window-delay-confirmed-vertical-sylvester-stallone/) Collider reported a February 24, 2027 release with Neon across roughly 3,000 U.S. theaters, and Rotten Tomatoes likewise lists NEON as distributor for February 24, 2027; Deadline, however, reported in September 2026 that Vertical had acquired U.S. rights and was targeting a spring 2027 wide release. These accounts of the U.S. distributor and date remain unresolved between the two lines of reporting.[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cliffhanger) • [3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) Pathé Netherlands lists a Netherlands release date of December 31, 2027.[8](https://www.pathe.nl/en/films/cliffhanger-50671)
Collider reported that the film tested well with audiences and that Neon hoped it could become the biggest box-office success in the distributor's history.[5](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/) As of the latest sourced listings, Rotten Tomatoes showed zero verified ratings, and no certification or reviews were available ahead of release.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cliffhanger)
## Screenplay credits
Credit information differs across sources. The official Row K page lists the writers as [Ana Lily Amirpour](https://www.edgepedia.org/ana-lily-amirpour), Sasha Penn, Mark Bianculli, and Melanie Toast.[1](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger) Deadline's 2024 report described a story by Amirpour with a latest draft by Melanie Toast,[2](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/) while Deadline's 2026 report credits the screenplay to Mark Bianculli and Melanie Toast, based on a story by Sacha Penn and Bianculli.[3](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/) The discrepancy has not been resolved in the available reporting.
## References
1. [Cliffhanger – Row K (official film page)](https://rowkpresents.com/films/cliffhanger)
2. ['Cliffhanger' Reboot To Star Lily James And Pierce Brosnan, Deadline (October 2024)](https://deadline.com/2024/10/lily-james-pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-reboot-1236163454/)
3. ['Cliffhanger': Lily James, Pierce Brosnan Movie Acquired by Vertical, Deadline (September 2026)](https://deadline.com/2026/09/cliffhanger-lily-james-vertical-acquisition-1237100608/)
4. [Remake Of Sylvester Stallone's $255M Action Thriller Officially Delayed To 2027, Screen Rant](https://screenrant.com/cliffhanger-remake-release-window-delay-confirmed-vertical-sylvester-stallone/)
5. [Pierce Brosnan's Remake of a Sylvester Stallone Classic Thriller Officially Sets Release Date, Collider](https://collider.com/pierce-brosnan-cliffhanger-release-date/)
6. [Cliffhanger, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cliffhanger)
7. [Cliffhanger (2027), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1441251/)
8. [Cliffhanger – Release, E-Ticket, Trailer, Pathé Netherlands](https://www.pathe.nl/en/films/cliffhanger-50671)
9. [Row K acquires action remake ‘Cliffhanger’ starring Pierce Brosnan, Lily James](https://www.screendaily.com/news/row-k-acquires-action-remake-cliffhanger-starring-pierce-brosnan-lily-james/5209307.article)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Action, thriller, and crime series film entries › Entries released 2020s and later*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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