‘Moon Knight’ Helmer Mohamed Diab Takes ‘Leap’ On Sci-Fi Thriller With The Picture Company & Studiocanal

EXCLUSIVE: Mohamed Diab is set to direct Leap, a high concept action thriller script by Source Code writer Ben Ripley and produced by The Picture Company.

This follows Studiocanal’s recent acquisition of a minority stake in The Picture Company under an expanded overall deal made during Cannes. Leap is a priority project for both companies. Partners Andrew Rona & Alex Heineman will produce for The Picture Company.

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Pic is set aboard the Eurostar train which runs high-speed between London and Paris. Leap is a high-concept action-thriller with a grounded sci-fi idea at the center. The story follows a daring rescue mission to save one of the train’s passengers, who is trapped onboard in a never-ending time loop.

Diab’s breakout turn came when he recently directed the Marvel Studios/Disney+ series Moon Knight, starring Oscar Isaac. Diab made his directorial debut on Cairo 678, about a trio of female vigilantes who fight sexual harassment on the streets of Cairo. In 2016, he followed up with the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regarde opener Clash, an action-packed political thriller shot entirely from within the confines of a police truck. His most recent film, Amira picked up three awards at the Venice Film Festival.

The Picture Company’s upcoming spy thriller Role Play starring Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo is set to be released by MGM/Amazon in early 2024. The company are among producers on the upcoming James Mangold-directed Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, starring Timothee Chalamet for Searchlight Pictures. The Picture Company is also producing the Studiocanal-financed Control, an international thriller starring James McAvoy and directed by Robert Schwentke which is now in pre-production.

Ron Halpern and Shanna Eddy will oversee for Studiocanal.

Mohamed Diab is represented by CAA and Ithaka Media, and the law firm of Greenberg Glusker.

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