Antonio Banderas Will Lead Action Thriller ‘Above and Below’

Looks like Antonio Banderas is trading in his black Corinthian leather boots (you know, the ones famously worn by his character in Puss in Boots) for the wide, open sea because the longtime actor is set to lead a new action-packed thriller titled Above and Below. According to Variety, Banderas will star alongside Disney alum Laura Marano, who famously starred in the 2011 Disney Channel series Austin & Ally and the 2013 series Liv and Maddie. Marano also appeared in 2016’s Oscar-nominated film, Lady Bird. As stated by the outlet, Banderas and Marano will star beside Christina Ochoa (Animal Kingdom, Blood Drive) and Mario Tardón (Risen). Variety also reported that filming for the upcoming action flick has officially begun in Spain.

Though Above and Below is still in early production, the film is described as an “action-packed thriller, full of twists,” so it sounds like it will be a certified must-watch for movie-goers. The movie is set to follow a group of friends who set out for a memorable vacation. Surrounded by nothing but the open sea, the comrades find themselves under attack by violent criminals who turn their night of fun into a living nightmare. With nowhere to run, Tatiana (who will be played by Marano) must find a way to escape and save her friends.

What Kind of Character Will Antonio Banderas Play in New Action Thriller ‘Above and Below’?

In the film, Banderas portrays a character named Burns, who is a man plagued by violence. Per the synopsis, Burns appears to be a “broad-shouldered and cold-eyed” individual who has a “mere presence that commands respect and fear.” The movie synopsis also describes his character as “calculating and methodical.”

Above and Below is just one of many films that will join Banderas’s action movie catalog. For example, he has played Zorro in The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro, which follows a prison escapee who is determined to find his long-lost daughter and avenge the death of his wife. But that’s not all —the longtime actor has starred in a number of action-packed films, including Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and of course, the Spy Kids franchise.

The Banderas-led film will be distributed worldwide by Capstone Pictures, a production company that is responsible for launching the action-adventure horror film, Dark Jungle, at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, Above and Below will be directed by stuntman-turned-director Jesse V. Johnson, who has directed films such as Savage Dog, Accident Man, Avengement and Triple Threat. As far as stunt work goes, Johnson worked as a stunt professional on some films you may have heard of, including Mission Impossible III, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Total Recall.

So, is there a release date for Banderas’ new action thriller Above and Below? Well, that hasn’t been revealed yet. But with filming underway, it is only a matter of time until additional casting details and an official premiere date are revealed. So, we’ll just have to be patient in the meantime.

Source: Variety