Take a look at the latest release date announcements for the following films:

  • The Gunman - Pierre Morel's action-thriller starring Sean Penn as a PTSD-stricken war veteran will open March 20, 2015.  Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance and Jasmine Trinca also star.
  • The Forest - Jason Zada's supernatural thriller based on an idea from David S. Goyer will open January 8, 2016.
  • Lucy - Luc Besson's action-thriller starring Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman moves up from August 8, 2014 to July 25, 2014.  Check out the recently released international trailer here.

Hit the jump for more on both films, including the new image from The Gunman.

Take a look at the new image from The Gunman, following the film's synopsis:

In THE GUNMAN, Sean Penn stars as a former special forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD. He tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name.  The film also stars Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance and Jasmine Trinca.

Based on Jean-Patrick Manchette’s novel The Prone Gunman, THE GUNMAN was directed by Pierre Morel (Taken, The Transporter franchise).  The film was produced by Joel Silver, Andrew Rona and Sean Penn and executive produced by Adrian Guerra and Peter McAleese.

the-gunman-sean-penn

And here's more info on The Forest, with the synopsis appearing in bold below:

FOCUS FEATURES ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO SUPERNATURAL THRILLER THE FOREST DIRECTED BY JASON ZADA

Studio to Release Film Based on an Original Idea from Screenwriter David S. Goyer on January 8, 2016

Good Universe Separately Partners with Lava Bear to Handle International Sales of the Project

CANNES / LOS ANGELES  May 22, 2014 – Focus Features announced today that it has acquired North American distribution rights to Lava Bear Films and Phantom Four’s THE FOREST.  The supernatural thriller is being directed by Jason Zada from a script rewritten by Sarah Cornwell and based on an original idea by screenwriter David S. Goyer.  Lava Bear Films is producing the film along with Goyer and Nellie Reed under his Phantom Four banner.  Focus Features plans to release the film on January 8, 2016.  Concurrently, Good Universe has partnered with Lava Bear to handle international sales on the film.

Peter Schlessel, CEO of Focus Features, stated, “THE FOREST will be a cinematic journey to a dark and terrifying place and I’m happy to be on that journey with Jason Zada, David Goyer, David Linde, and Tory Metzger.  The supernatural scares of the THE FOREST will be something that will genuinely thrill audiences.”

Goyer said, “Jason is the real deal.  He impressed us immediately with his thoughtful and emotional approach to the material.”

“Working with a team of this caliber, with material this elevated, is as good as it gets,” added Good Universe Co-Founder Joe Drake.

David Linde, Founder of Lava Bear, stated, “This film originated from one of our first meetings at Lava Bear, and I am especially excited to see it come together with everyone in such a thrilling form.”

THE FOREST is a supernatural thriller set in the legendary Aokigahara Forest, a real-life place in Japan where people go to end their lives.  Against this backdrop, a young American woman comes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared.  Despite everyone’s warnings not to “stray from the path,” Sara dares to enter the forest to discover the truth about her sister’s fate, only to be confronted by the angry and tormented souls of the dead who now prey on anyone who crosses their paths. 

Zada is an acclaimed director of innovative, ground breaking commercials and music videos. His credits include directing and writing the eye-opening interactive short TAKE THIS LOLLIPOP. In 2011, TAKE THIS LOLLIPOP appeared virally on YouTube and in less than a week, had been viewed 7,000,000 times, and quickly garnered more than 13 million “likes” on Facebook.

Tory Metzger, President of Lava Bear, will oversee the production of the film.  The deal was negotiated on behalf of Focus by Beth Lemberger, Focus Features’ EVP of Business Affairs, with attorney David Boyle representing Lava Bear. Goyer is represented by WME and Zada is represented by UTA.