Aaron Pierre to Star in Netflix Action Thriller Fairytale in New York From Sisu Director

LOS ANGELES, November 13 – Aaron Pierre is heading back to Netflix for a festive action ride. The star of Rebel Ridge and HBO’s Lanterns will lead Fairytale in New York, a new action thriller from Finnish director Jalmari Helander, the filmmaker behind Sisu.

Netflix announced the casting on its official X account, describing the story in one line: “On Christmas Eve in New York City, an unassuming cabbie embarks on a relentless night of vengeance after his estranged son’s priceless gift is stolen.”

The project teams Netflix with Lionsgate. According to Deadline, which first reported the deal, Netflix will distribute the film while Lionsgate produces it, and the sale followed a competitive auction. The Hollywood Reporter also described Netflix’s offer as a winning competitive bid.

A familiar creative team

Fairytale in New York is based on an original spec script by writers Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. The pair also wrote Helander’s upcoming John Rambo, a prequel starring Noah Centineo that is due in cinemas on June 4, 2027, according to Deadline.

The film reunites Helander with Lionsgate, which released his two Sisu films. Beau Flynn will produce for FlynnPictureCo alongside Kevin King Templeton for Templeton Media, while Scott Sheldon, Haines and Noshirvani serve as executive producers, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Erin Westerman was full of praise for the pairing. “Coming off the extraordinary success of War Machine, we couldn’t be more excited to be making another film with our friends at Netflix,” she said in a statement. Of Helander, she added: “He’s an exceptional filmmaker with a distinctive ability to deliver visceral, memorable action while never losing sight of character and emotion. That makes him a perfect match for Aaron Pierre, who has all the makings of a major movie star.”

A busy run for Aaron Pierre

The new role caps a big stretch for Pierre. His breakout came with Netflix’s Rebel Ridge, the thriller from director Jeremy Saulnier, and he went on to star as John Stewart in the HBO and DC Studios series Lanterns. He also appeared in Love of Your Life, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

His 2027 slate is already packed. Deadline reported that Pierre is set to return as John Stewart in DC Studios’ Man From Tomorrow and to appear in Star Wars: Starfighter, the Ryan Gosling-led film that opens next May.

Helander, meanwhile, has wrapped production on John Rambo, making Fairytale in New York his next big action outing.

Netflix has not yet announced a release date or any further cast for Fairytale in New York. With a Christmas Eve setting, a lone cabbie and the director of Sisu at the wheel, fans of high-octane action will be keeping a close eye on this one.

Source: Netflix on X (x.com/netflix/status/2121318862016942445), with background from Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.

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