Ethan Hawke Stars in the Thriller ’24 Hours to Live’

Ethan Hawke in Boyhood
Samantha (Lorelei Linklater), Mason Sr. (Ethan Hawke), and Mason (Ellar Coltrane), age 9, in Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD. (Photo Courtesy of Matt Lankes. An IFC Films Release.)

Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Training Day) will take on a starring role in the thriller 24 Hours to Live. Brian Smrz is on board to direct the Thunder Road Pictures and Fundamental Films project based on Zachary Dean’s screenplay (original script by Jim McClain and Ron Mita). Basil Iwanyk, Mark Gao, and Gregory Ouanhon are producing, and Gary Glushon, Kent Kubena, and Jonathan Fuhrman will executive produce. Sierra/Affinity’s handling international sales of the thriller.


Announcing Hawke’s involvement, Fundamental Films CEO Mark Gao stated, “Ethan is a very respected international sensation. We’re thrilled to have Brian directing such an explosive script, and to be able to bring this story to the big screen.” Thunder Road Principal Basil Iwanyk added, “Thunder Road is excited to be working again with the phenomenal Ethan Hawke and launching our great next action director in Brian Smrz.”

Hawke recently completed work on Valerian, The Magnificent Seven, and In a Valley of Violence. Smrz was Second Unit Director on Iron Man 3, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse.

The Plot: 24 Hours to Live follows a career assassin who is given a chance at redemption after his employer brings him back to life temporarily, just after being killed on the job.