Row K’s acquisition of U.S. distribution rights for the CLIFFHANGER reboot might have made headlines just last month, but now there’s something concrete for audiences to mark on their calendars: August 28, 2026. That’s when Pierce Brosnan and Lily James will take moviegoers back to the treacherous peaks that made the original such a white-knuckle experience, though this time the story ventures into entirely new territory while honoring the spirit that made Sylvester Stallone’s 1993 thriller so memorable.
Brosnan’s casting as Ray Cooper represents a fascinating evolution for an actor who’s spent decades proving he’s far more than just James Bond. Here he plays a seasoned mountaineer who’s traded the adrenaline of professional climbing for running a luxury chalet in the Dolomites alongside his daughter Naomi, a role that allows him to tap into the weathered gravitas and physical capability he’s demonstrated in recent years while adding layers of paternal protection and hard-won survival instincts. What begins as a routine weekend excursion with a billionaire’s son quickly descends into violence when kidnappers set their sights on the group, and it’s Brosnan’s Cooper who must draw on every ounce of his mountain expertise to protect those under his care. But the real story belongs to Naomi, who finds herself fleeing into the unforgiving mountains, forced to confront not only the armed pursuers hunting her down but also the psychological demons left behind by a tragic climbing accident that still haunts her. It’s a setup that transforms the franchise from a straightforward action spectacle into something more intimate and psychologically complex, with survival becoming as much an internal battle as an external one, and it positions Brosnan not as the invincible hero but as a father watching his daughter face impossible odds.
The choice to center this reboot around Brosnan rather than casting a younger action star signals a deliberate shift in tone and approach. At this stage of his career, Brosnan brings a complexity and world-weariness that a conventional action lead couldn’t match, suggesting that Cooper’s mountain expertise comes with its own history of losses and near-misses. Director Jaume Collet-Serra brings his proven thriller instincts to a script crafted by Ana Lily Amirpour, Sasha Penn, Mark Bianculli, and Melanie Toast, and early reactions from the production suggest they’ve struck that delicate balance between honoring the original and forging their own path. James herself has expressed genuine enthusiasm about what they’ve created, noting during the editing process that while the reimagining takes unexpected turns, it preserves all the gripping glory that made audiences clutch their armrests the first time around. That confidence from someone inside the production is reassuring, especially for a franchise that carries significant nostalgic weight for action fans who remember the original’s impact, and it suggests that Brosnan’s presence elevates the material beyond simple spectacle.
And that impact was considerable. The original CLIFFHANGER arrived at a crucial moment for Stallone, who desperately needed a win after the consecutive disappointments of OSCAR and STOP! OR MY MOM WILL SHOOT had left his box office credibility in question. The high-altitude action thriller delivered exactly what he needed, proving he could still command the screen in a physically demanding role while working with spectacular locations and death-defying stunts. The success was significant enough that a sequel immediately went into development, with plans for Stallone’s Gabe Walker to face off against terrorists who’d seized control of the Hoover Dam. But that follow-up languished in development hell for years, the concept never quite coming together, until the decision was finally made to reboot the entire franchise rather than continue the original storyline. Now, over three decades later, that reboot is finally ready to test whether modern audiences still crave the particular brand of vertigo-inducing terror that made the franchise a phenomenon in the first place, and whether Brosnan can bring the same kind of desperate intensity to the mountains that Stallone once did, albeit filtered through a very different kind of character and a very different moment in cinema history.
Brendan Gleeson is bringing all the feels in H IS FOR HAWK 🎬🦅
Playing the beloved father in this beautiful 2025 drama based on Helen Macdonald`s bestselling memoir, Gleeson delivers a performance that`s both tender and powerful.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Netflix`s BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER has an amazing new trailer!
Colin Farrell plays an Irish fugitive hiding in Macau`s neon underworld as "Lord Doyle," gambling desperately to outrun his past.
The film opens in theaters Oct. 15 and starts streaming Oct. 29 on Netflix.
Watch now via link in bio.
Saoirse Ronan is heading back to the `60s! 🎸
The four-time Oscar nominee is reportedly set to play Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes` wildly ambitious THE BEATLES project—four separate films, each following a different Beatle.
She`ll star opposite Paul Mescal (her FOE co-star) as Paul McCartney, with Barry Keoghan as Ringo, Joseph Quinn as George, and Harris Dickinson as John.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Cillian Murphy just confirmed THE IMMORTAL MAN drops in 2026 and Tommy Shelby is coming back with a vengeance. 🔥
Fresh off STEVE hitting Netflix, Murphy spilled the tea on The Graham Norton Show that the Peaky Blinders film has wrapped.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
Graham Norton isn`t going anywhere!
The BBC has locked in three more series of THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW - with 2.9 million viewers tuning in and clips going viral weekly, Norton continues to prove why he`s the gold standard for celebrity interviews.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Cillian Murphy isn`t chasing blockbusters—he`s back in the classroom.
The Irish actor`s latest role in Netflix`s STEVE sees him playing a struggling teacher at a last-chance reform school, proving once again that he`s more interested in transformation than validation.
Watch Cillian`s TODAY interview via link in bio.
🖤⚡️ JESSIE BUCKLEY IS COMING BACK TO LIFE! ⚡️🖤
Ireland`s Irish powerhouse transforms into a Gaga-esque flapper brought back to life as the companion of Christian Bale`s creature in Maggie Gyllenhaal`s electrifying new take on THE BRIDE!
New trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
🌟 From THE WITCHER to DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS to EVERYTHING NOW.
Dublin`s @niamhhmccormack_ has been quietly building one of the most impressive portfolios in Irish acting.
Don`t miss her in HOUSE OF GUINNESS, now streaming on @netflix.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🌊 When Oscar-nominated Stephen Rea (THE CRYING GAME, MICHAEL COLLINS, V FOR VENDETTA) lends his legendary voice to a haunting tale of shipwreck and survival, you know something magical is about to happen.
📍 @irishculturalcentre, Hammersmith
🗓️ November 8-9 ONLY
🎭 Don`t miss this exclusive London run!
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 Cillian Murphy is absolutely unstoppable right now!
Three incredible performances in a row: Oscar winner OPPENHEIMER ✨ SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE 💫 and now STEVE - a powerhouse drama about a school headteacher fighting his own demons while saving troubled kids.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
THE WEIR is haunting London`s Harold Pinter Theatre until 6 Dec, and it`s pure magic. Brendan Gleeson makes his West End debut alongside an incredible cast in Conor McPherson`s modern masterpiece - with the playwright himself directing for the first time!
"It`s already a classic in the canon of world theatre," says Seán McGinley, and honestly? We believe him. Sometimes the most powerful stories happen over a pint, in the space between words, where kindness becomes community.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🏆 IRISH TALENT TAKES TORONTO!
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal just won BIG at TIFF with HAMNET - snagging the People`s Choice Award that`s basically an Oscar crystal ball ✨
More at irishfilmtv.com.
From strolling London`s Highbury Fields to stepping into Paul McCartney`s shoes 🎸✨
Paul Mescal is living proof that staying grounded while reaching for the stars isn`t just possible—it`s the secret sauce. Fresh off HAMNET and deep in rehearsals for Sam Mendes` Beatles biopics, this Irish charmer is redefining what it means to be a modern movie star.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🔥 When Margot Robbie had a "suspicion" her chemistry with Colin Farrell would work in A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY... she was absolutely right! ✨
These two icons dive into Kogonada`s A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY where strangers Sarah and David rent mysterious cars that transport them through doorways to their childhood memories. Talk about a wild ride! 🚗💫
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Paul Mescal and Josh O`Connor playing LIE vs LIE is the chaotic energy we didn`t know we needed 😂
These THE HISTORY OF SOUND co-stars swap outrageous stories, questionable audition tales, and awkward fan encounters—and honestly, we can`t tell what`s real anymore 🤷♀️
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
