Yahoo Movies What we know about the Cliffhanger sequel as Lily James joins cast
Sylvester Stallone is no longer attached to star
A new Cliffhanger movie is in the works, coming 30 years after the 1993 original.
A sequel was originally announced shortly after the mega success of the first film, with Sylvester Stallone on board to return as mountain climber Gabe Walker but the project ended up trapped in development hell even as the Rocky star found renewed success returning to other old characters.
The surprise announcement of a new Cliffhanger movie was made in 2023 ahead of Cannes Film Festival, and now filming has begun, although the project has had a major overhaul, including the axing of Sylvester Stallone from the cast.
Read more: Why isn't Sylvester Stallone in Creed III?
Read on for everything we know about the new Cliffhanger.
What is the new Cliffhanger about?
The new Cliffhanger has been written by Melanie Toast (Shut In), based on a story by filmmaker Ana Lily Amipour (The Bad Batch) who was originally slated to direct the film. The new film has been described as "a father-daughter take on Die Hard."
It centres on a father-daughter duo — played by Pierce Brosnan and Lily James — who find themselves targeted by kidnappers in the Dolomites mountain range in Italy. Ray, the father, is a seasoned mountaineer who owns a luxury chalet, while his daughter Sydney must confront her own fears and take on the gang.
The film was originally envisioned as a straight sequel, with Sylvester Stallone reprising his role as Gabe Walker in the father role with Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen) directing, but in October 2024, it was revealed by Variety that the Rocky star was now longer involved.
Who will star in Cliffhanger?
Lily James (Cinderella) and Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye) will lead the cast of the new Cliffhanger movie, alongside Nell Tiger Free, Franz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf, Assaad Bouab, Suzy Bemba and Bruno Gouery.
Talking about the film, James said: "The process of shooting Cliffhanger has been exhilarating. I love stepping into the shoes, and learning from the climbing community. Jaume is a force. We have a fearless cast and crew who have been unparalleled in their passion and dedication."
Who is directing Cliffhanger?
Jaume Collet-Serra will direct the new Cliffhanger movie. The Spanish-American filmmaker is no stranger to high concept action movies, having directed The Shallows, The Commuter, Jungle Cruise, and Black Adam (which also starred Brosnan). His next movie Carry-On, starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, will debut on Netflix in December 2024.
"Shooting our movie on location in the Dolomites using large format cameras was imperative for us to show the scope and scale of the story we’re telling. We’re going to bring the audience a truly thrilling and visceral, premium theatrical experience," said Collet-Serra. "Lily in particular has gone above and beyond for the role, putting in real training and learning to climb. Her dedication has allowed us to capture some incredible shots we couldn’t have achieved otherwise, and the whole crew is blown away by her commitment."
The original Cliffhanger was directed by Renny Harlin who was also behind other action movies such as Die Hard 2, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Deep Blue Sea.
When will Cliffhanger be released?
The new Cliffhanger is filming now, and is aiming for a full theatrical release. The release date is currently TBC.
