A Variety report says new indie film distributor Row K Entertainment is already facing a serious financial crisis, with multiple sources indicating it has struggled with cash flow since its launch and has allegedly failed to pay vendors, consultants, and partners, leading to halted work and potential legal threats.
Maude Apatow’s directorial debut “Poetic License”—which the company acquired for a significant sum at Toronto International Film Festival—has become a key casualty, with its release delayed and its future uncertain, raising concerns about reputational damage for those involved.
The situation has also cast doubt on Row K’s broader slate of films, most notably its “Cliffhanger” reboot starring Lily James and Pierce Brosnan, which is slated for August. Reportedly, Row K never officially finalized the acquisition deal with Creative Artists Agency, meaning the film could still be picked up by another distributor.
The film had been lined up for a 3,000-screen U.S. theatrical release in August. Row K secured its first North American acquisition at the Venice Film Festival with Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire,” which grossed just $2 million worldwide.
Jaume Collet-Serra (“Non-Stop”) is directing “Cliffhanger.” The script, based on a story by Ana Lily Amirpour (“A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”), has been described by insiders as a father-daughter spin on “Die Hard.”
The original “Cliffhanger” (1993), directed by Renny Harlin and starring Sylvester Stallone, grossed $255 million worldwide and became a staple of ’90s action cinema. Stallone is not involved in the reboot—though he was initially attached. Creative differences led to his exit in 2024, followed by a creative overhaul with Collet-Serra, James, and Brosnan coming on board.
The film arrives unrated, set to screen in 2,000+ theaters this weekend, but is already plagued by disastrous early reviews, amounting to a 29% score on Rotten Tomatoes.