Ansel Elgort, the charismatic actor from films such as "Baby Driver" and "Tokyo Vice," has inked a deal to portray a marathon runner engulfed in a life-or-death struggle in "Faster Than Horses," a heart-pounding survival thriller directed by documentary maestro James Erskine (renowned for "Billie" and "The End of the Storm"). This cinematic venture is produced by survival legend Bear Grylls.
Drawn from a genuine tale and based on an intriguing article penned by Hampton Sides, "Faster Than Horses" chronicles the journey of a former Olympic athlete striving to reclaim his glory in the Marathon des Sables, deemed the world's toughest footrace, comprising a series of non-stop marathons spanning the Sahara Desert. However, fate throws a devastating curveball when a monstrous sandstorm swallows the race, stranding him alone in the vast, unforgiving Sahara and pitting him against a relentless ten-day fight for survival.
Currently in the nascent stages of pre-production, "Faster Than Horses" is poised to captivate international audiences. Upgrade Productions, the outfit steering its global sales, will present this thrilling project to international buyers at the esteemed American Film Market in Las Vegas next week. Meanwhile, CAA Media Finance holds the reins for North American rights.
Erskine co-crafted the screenplay for "Faster Than Horses" with Michael Mul and Chris Mul, while Grylls, through his banner The Natural Studios, produces alongside Delbert Shoopman, Ben Grass, and Michael Pugliese of Running Tiger Films, as well as Stuart Sutherland of Celtic Arabia. Executive producers Jonathan Kier and Matt Brodlie from Upgrade are also lending their expertise to the film.
Erskine expressed his enthrallment with the narrative, stating, "Since I first heard this story, I've been mesmerized by it and am now thrilled to bring it to the screen. It's a profound tale of struggle and redemption unfolding against the most breathtakingly dramatic landscapes on earth."
Grylls echoed his excitement, sharing, "I've been privy to this story for years and am elated to be part of the team breathing life into it. Ansel's depiction of a man battling against overwhelming odds for physical and emotional survival will grip audiences…The story is nothing short of astonishing."
Ansel is represented by CAA, Brookside Artist Management, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman. Both Delbert Shoopman and Bear Grylls are also represented by CAA, while James Erskine is represented by Curtis Brown and CAA.
