‘Cliffhanger’ Reboot Has $100M Budget but Still No U.S. Distribution

Wait, did I read this correctly? That “Cliffhanger” reboot, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, and which is still seeking US distribution, has a $100M budget? That’s according to Puck’s Matt Belloni.

That is quite the steep price for a movie that doesn’t have any big stars in it — unless Lily James and Pierce Brosnan fit your fancy — and that is nowhere near guaranteed to be a success. Oh, and it is very likely the film might not officially have US distribution yet, even though reports indicated Row K had acquired it.

This “Cliffhanger” reboot was primarily financed through independent production funding, combining international pre-sales and private investment rather than a traditional studio deal. The project was developed by producers including Neal H. Moritz, with sales handled via CAA Media Finance, which marketed distribution rights to buyers territory by territory to secure upfront cash.

Last month, a Variety report had Row K Entertainment 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.

This situation cast serious doubt on Row K’s broader slate of films, most notably its “Cliffhanger” reboot, which is for now slated for an August release. According to Belloni, Row K actually never officially finalized the acquisition deal with CAA, meaning “Cliffhanger” could still be picked up by another distributor, if anybody even wants it.

The film, which Row K wants to give a wide theatrical US release in 3,000+ screens, based on a story by Ana Lily Amirpour (“A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”), has been described as a father-daughter spin on “Die Hard.” Amirpour only came in after Sylvester Stallone, star of the original, and who was set to return for this one, abruptly exited the project, weeks before production was set to begin, due to “creative differences.” The whole thing got revamped, Amirpour came in, James and Brosnan got cast, and here we are with this $100M reboot, remake, whatever you want to call it.

The original “Cliffhanger” (1993), directed by Renny Harlin and starring Stallone, grossed $255M worldwide — what on earth would justify that $100M budget? It did eventually become a staple of ’90s action cinema, but producers might have overestimated the audience for this upcoming film.