Vertical Acquires Kevin James Action Comedy ‘Guns Up’

EXCLUSIVE: Vertical has acquired U.S. and UK/IRE rights to Guns Up, a new action comedy starring actor and comedian Kevin James. Hailing from writer-director Edward Drake (Detective Knight film series) and Millennium Media, the studio behind the Hitman’s Bodyguard franchise, the film is set to hit theaters this summer.

Also starring Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets), Luis Guzmán (Wednesday), and Melissa Leo (The Fighter), Guns Up follows Ray Hayes (James), an ex-cop and devoted husband and father who leads a dangerous double life as a mob henchman. On the brink of leaving “The Family” and making his dream of opening a diner with his wife Alice (Ricci) a reality, his final job goes off the rails. With the clock ticking, Ray has one night to get his unsuspecting family out of the city before he gets snuffed out.

Writer-director Drake called the film “a love-letter to every parent who sacrificed their dreams so they could support their families,” adding, “I’m forever grateful to Kevin James, who fearlessly threw himself into every stunt (literally), and Christina Ricci, who is so damn good and makes directors look way more talented than we actually are. I hope Guns Up brings a little joy to audiences around the world one head shot at a time.”

Stated Vertical Partner & CEO Peter Jarowey, “Edward has crafted a thrilling, action-packed crowd-pleaser with Guns Up. Audiences are in for a surprise and are going to love Kevin James like they’ve never seen him before. He literally kills it.”

Guns Up is produced by J.J. Nugent, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jon Keeyes, Mandi Murro, Tobias Weymar, and Drake and executive produced by Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Jonathan Yunger, Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Tyler Gould, Ford Corbett, Jatin Desai, Mark Fasano, Greg Friedman, Joshua Harris, and Nathan Klingher. Victor Hadida and Lonnie Ramati co-exec produced alongside co-producers Pete Kinnane and Dan Taggatz.

Vertical’s Jarowey, US SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi and UK Head of Acquisitions Ryan Keller negotiated the deal on behalf of Vertical and Nugent of Millennium Media negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.