Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Focus Features Acquires Worldwide Rights to Ice Cube, Tommy Lee Jones Film
Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to a new movie called Outside Man.
Brian Helgeland is writing and directing it.
Ice Cube plays Ruben, a former mob enforcer who has just left prison.
Ruben wants to change his life, so he moves to rural Texas.
There, he gets a job with Gus, a furniture craftsman and retired Texas Ranger, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
The two men become friends.
But things get difficult when events from their pasts catch up with them.
Filming is expected to start in November.
Focus Features acquired worldwide rights to Outside Man, directed and written by Brian Helgeland.
The film stars Ice Cube as Ruben Bowman, a former Chicago mob enforcer released from prison.
Tommy Lee Jones plays Gus Wanamaker, a retired Texas Ranger who employs Ruben.
The story follows the two men as they form a friendship threatened by their pasts.
Production is scheduled to begin in November; Teton Ridge Entertainment is producing.
- Who
- Focus Features acquired the rights; the film stars Ice Cube and Tommy Lee Jones and is written and directed by Brian Helgeland.
- What
- Focus Features acquired worldwide rights to Outside Man.
- When
- The acquisition was reported in the article; filming is scheduled to begin in November.
- Where
- The story is set in rural Texas.
- Why
- The film follows Ruben as he tries to change his life after prison, and his growing friendship with Gus is threatened by their pasts.
- Film
- Outside Man
- Distributor
- Focus Features acquired worldwide rights.
- Writer and director
- Brian Helgeland
- Cast
- Ice Cube and Tommy Lee Jones
- Production company
- Teton Ridge Entertainment
- Production start
- Scheduled for November; no year is specified.
- Story setting
- Rural Texas