Archive · 6 Nov 2025
Hayley Atwell Joins Gerard Butler in Hostage Crisis Thriller ‘Empire City’
Imagine a big building in New York City where some people are being held against their way, like a bad guy has trapped them.
A brave firefighter, played by Gerard Butler, has to go inside to save them.
His wife, who is a police officer, played by Hayley Atwell, is also part of the rescue mission.
They have to be super careful and fight their way through the building to get everyone out safely.
The movie is going to be an exciting action story about this rescue.
It's directed by Michael Matthews and will start filming very soon.
Hayley Atwell will star alongside Gerard Butler in the new action-thriller 'Empire City'.
The film, directed by Michael Matthews, centers on a hostage crisis in New York's Clybourn Building.
Butler plays a firefighter, and Atwell plays his NYPD wife, both involved in the rescue mission.
Filming is set to commence this month, with the script by Brian Tucker and S. Craig Zahler.
The project is backed by MadRiver Pictures and Leonine Studios, with international distribution handled by various global partners.
- Who
- Hayley Atwell is joining Gerard Butler in the action-thriller 'Empire City'.
- What
- Atwell will play the role of NYPD wife Dani, whose firefighter husband Rhett (Butler) must navigate a hostage crisis in a New York building to rescue captives.
- When
- Filming is scheduled to begin this month.
- Where
- The action takes place inside New York's Clybourn Building.
- Why
- The film centers on a hostage crisis that erupts within the building, requiring the main characters to fight their way through to rescue those held captive.
Production Company
Financing and Distribution
Key Partners Involved
Production Company
G-BASE partners Gerard Butler and Alan Siegel are reuniting with producer Marc Butan from MadRiver Pictures for 'Empire City,' with Paul Currie also producing. Leonine Studios is co-financing development and will executive produce.
Financing and Distribution
MadRiver Pictures has a multi-year equity financing and distribution deal with international distributors including DeAPlaneta, Eagle Pictures, IDC Distribution, Leonine Studios, The Searchers, Shochiku, SND, and Unicorn Media, who will handle distribution in their respective territories. The first film under this pact, 'Mutiny' starring Jason Statham, is slated for a Lionsgate release next year.
- Genre
- Action-Thriller, Hostage Crisis
- Director
- Michael Matthews
- Screenwriters
- Brian Tucker, S. Craig Zahler
- Main Cast
- Gerard Butler, Hayley Atwell
- Setting
- New York's Clybourn Building
- Filming Start
- This month