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.
James Nesbitt is back in Harlan Coben`s twisted universe. 🔍
RUN AWAY drops January 1st on #Netflix — and this one`s personal.
When Simon (Nesbitt) finally finds his missing daughter strung out in a city park, it`s supposed to be a second chance. Instead, it`s the beginning of a nightmare.
New trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
Are you loving STEVE on #Netflix?
Legendary war photographer Sir Don McCullin spent days on set capturing behind-the-scenes magic from this raw Netflix drama starring Cillian Murphy about a head teacher fighting to save his reform school while battling his own demons.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🏆 RIVALS just scooped the International Emmy for Best Drama Series!
The Disney+ hit starring Irish talents Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit brought home the gold for this deliciously scandalous 1980s romp through the world of wealthy media types.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
From THE COMMITMENTS to THE TUDORS to KIN, @mariadoylekennedy has built a career that defies categories.
In a brand new interview with The Irish Examiner, Maria opens up about the artists and art that shaped her creative journey—from her Dublin roots to international screens and stages.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
🎭 From Shakespeare to a Beatle: Paul Mescal is doing the impossible!
Oscar-nominated Irish actor Paul Mescal is taking on TWO iconic roles that prove he`s one of the most fearless actors working today.
Watch Paul`s latest interview at irishfilmtv.com.
Kerry Condon`s brief but powerful performance in TRAIN DREAMS is pitch perfect.
She inhabits her character with quiet competence, moving through a male-dominated world with both caution and grace.
Watch now on @netflix!
🎬 HAMNET stars to receive Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards!
A stunning meditation on love`s fragility and art`s power to transform suffering into transcendence. This is Irish talent at its absolute finest on the world stage.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Netflix just quietly dropped a crime thriller you`ve been sleeping on, and Brendan Gleeson`s performance alone makes it mandatory viewing.
MR MERCEDES, Stephen King`s dark detective series that somehow flew under the radar, is finally streaming – and it`s everything fans of slow-burn psychological thrillers have been craving.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott is about to steal another movie and we`re absolutely here for it! 🔍
The trailer for WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY has dropped, and our beloved Irish actor is joining Daniel Craig`s Benoit Blanc for what looks like the most deliciously twisted instalment yet.
Scott plays bestselling author Lee Ross, one of several suspects in a seemingly impossible murder that rocks a small town`s religious community.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
From GLADIATOR II`s arena to the quiet forests of Maine collecting folk songs on wax cylinders—Paul Mescal`s latest role in THE HISTORY OF SOUND might be his most vulnerable yet.
Now on @amazonprime, the film follows Lionel, a shy musician from a Kentucky farm in the 1910s, who meets David White (Josh O`Connor) at the New England Conservatory.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
For more than two decades, Domhnall Gleeson has carved out one of the most diverse and compelling careers in contemporary cinema.
Watch Domhnall break down his career in his latest @esquire interview!
Link in bio ❤️
Adapted from Louise Kennedy`s bestselling novel, TRESPASSES stars Gillian Anderson as executive producer and cast member.
Kennedy praises the "ear-perfect, sexy script" and "gorgeously melancholic aesthetic vision" that brings her Women`s Prize-shortlisted novel to life.
Premieres Sunday 9pm on Channel 4, more at irishfilmtv.com.
THE IRIS AFFAIR is a high-stakes chase thriller that turns Italy into a deadly playground where genius meets danger.
Created by LUTHER mastermind Neil Cross, this Sky Original delivers cinematic tension where trust is fatal and every move could be your last. Two minds. One secret. No escape.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
** NEW TRAILER ALERT **
Roadside Attractions has unveiled the first trailer for H IS FOR HAWK, and it`s breathtaking. Brendan Gleeson appears as the father whose absence shapes everything, bringing his signature depth to a role that haunts the entire film.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 HAMNET has officially overtaken Paul Thomas Anderson`s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER as the Oscar frontrunner!
Chloé Zhao`s Shakespeare-inspired drama now leads with a 96.8% chance of nomination, fueled by its Telluride buzz and Toronto People`s Choice win.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
