Liam NeesonAxelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

EXCLUSIVE: Liam Neeson is set to lead police on an epic televised cross-country car chase in action-thriller Mongoose, which was an under-the-radar project at the Cannes market.

Amazon Prime Video has pre-bought most of international on the movie in a deal we understand closed this week at around $20M (with all of international pegged in the mid-20s).

Taken and Non-Stop star Neeson, who is currently in production on Naked Gun, will topline as Ryan “Fang” Flanagan, a war hero who, accused of a crime he didn’t commit and with nothing to lose, leads police on an epic televised cross-country car chase, helped by members of his former Special Forces Army battalion and closely monitored by a fascinated public rooting for his safe getaway.

The movie reunites Neeson with producers Code Entertainment who were behind both Ice Road movies. Production is set to start in January 2025 in Australia. Additional casting is ongoing.

Solution Entertainment handles international sales. CAA Media Finance reps domestic.

Pic will be directed by veteran stunt professional Mark Vanselow, whose career as an action sequence director, action designer, stunt coordinator and stuntman includes two SAG nominations for best stunt ensemble (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and winning a Vulture Stunt Award (2023) and a Taurus World Stunt Award (2008).

He has been Neeson’s stunt double for more than 20 films, including all the Taken movies, and both Ice Road movies (Ice Road 2 is currently in post). Script comes from Thompson Evans (Reckoning).

Code Entertainment will fully finance. Code’s Al Corley, Bart Rosenblatt, and Eugene Musso will produce. Jonathan Dana will executive-produce with Code’s Rich Freeman and Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel of The Solution Entertainment Group. It marks The Solution’s fifth movie with Neeson.

“We are so very fortunate to be able to make another picture with the extraordinary Liam Neeson and the enormously talented Mark Vanselow. We look forward to another creative journey with our partners and friends,” said Code’s Al Corley and Bart Rosenblatt.

Liam Neeson is represented by CAA and attorney Mark Stankevich. Thompson Evans is represented by Code Management and Gersh Agency.