Michael Mann’s Cyber-Thriller Gets A Release Date

For fans of director Michael Mann (Manhunter, Collateral, Heat),  the news that his currently untitled next feature (officially called Cyber for a while, but that name has been shelved) won’t be released by Universal until January 16, 2015 must be disappointing. The cyber-thriller starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor: The Dark World, Rush) has finished shooting in Hong Kong and is now in post-production.

Michael Mann penned the script with collaborator Morgan Davis Foehl (who is reportedly at work on the big screen Mass Effect adaptation). The story is set within a world of high-level hacking. A convict (Chris Hemsworth) who is serving time is notified that a southeast Asia-based hacker is using a code he created years ago to commit cyber crimes from Chicago to Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Jakarta. Chris Hemsworth’s character is furloughed from prison to put together his Chinese and American military contacts to stop the network. Tang Wei (Lust, Caution, Dragon) plays the love interest, while Wang Lee Hom (Love in Disguise, Little Big Soldier, Lust, Caution) plays her protective brother. Holt McCallancy (Gangster Squad, Bullet To The Head), Viola Davis (The Help, Prisoners) and William Mapother (Another Earth, The Grudge)  also star.

Josh Jahni and Thomas Tull are producing with Mann. Although Mann’s last feature, 2009’s Public Enemies  (where Johnny Depp played John Dillinger), was less than critically acclaimed, Michael is forging onward with confidence. He has recently committed to Big Tuna, the true story of elderly Chicago mobster Tony Accordo and his young successor Sam Giancana. Mann has personally hired Sheldon Turner to pen the script, picking up the cost in advance of a producer.

The release news means Hemsworth will be seen a lot in early 2015. The January release of Cyber, or whatever the final title ends up being, will come just two months in advance of Hemsworth’s next picture with Rush director Ron Howard, In The Heart Of The Sea, which in turn is releasing two months prior to Avengers: Age of Ultron.