Solstice Studios has just acquired the worldwide rights to Gerard Butler’s new action thriller The Plane, which is set to take off June 28, 2021. Lionsgate originally acquired the film at last year’s American Film Market, but exited due to the producers being unable to lock down production insurance that would cover a COVID-19 outbreak. 

The film follows commercial airplane pilot Ray Torrence after he heroically lands his damaged aircraft on a remote island the Philippines, only to find himself in the middle of a lawless war zone with ruthless pirates looking to take the plane and its passengers hostage. The plot is based on a story by Charles Cumming and Christian Gudegast with a script from Cumming and JP Davis. 

The Plane was originally supposed to shoot in Malaysia, but stalled because of a COVID spike in the region. Then, after moving production to the Dominican Republic, another COVID spike occurred, delaying production yet again. Production on the film was delayed once more in the U.S. for similar reasons. The film is now set to shoot in Southeast Asia, with Solstice Studios self-insuring the production. 

Even with the COVID pandemic causing issues for productions, Butler has been quite busy. His new disaster film, Greenland, is set to release in Chinese theaters next week, with a US release coming December 18, 2020. Butler is also set to star in Night Has Fallen, the upcoming fourth film in the Has Fallen franchise.