Two days before the Cannes Festival and its market, details of potential Oscar-winning productions begin to emerge. Just hours ago, Deadline announced that Mahershala Ali and Tom Hardy are set to star in “77 Blackout,” a crime thriller poised to become the next box office hit.
Cary Joji Fukunaga is slated to direct the film, bringing his prior experience in the action genre from “Masters of the Air” and “No Time to Die.” Charles Roven will produce, known for his involvement in the widely acclaimed “Oppenheimer.” If he repeats the formula, Ali and Hardy’s feature could be just as praised.
Tom Hardy earned an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in “The Revenant,” while Mahershala Ali has twice won in the same category for his performances in “Green Book” and “Moonlight.” Clearly, the Oscars committee will have their eyes on the upcoming movie.
What will 77 Blackout be about?
“77 Blackout” will be based on the true story of the New York City blackout of 1977. It was the night when the entire city went dark for 25 hours, resulting in over 1,000 fires and more than 3,000 arrests due to looting, arson, and vandalism.
Tom Hardy and Mahershala Ali will portray Ray Butler and Eddie Boyle, two of five police officers who devise a plan to rob three criminal mafia strongholds. However, as the blackout takes over the city, they not only must alter their plans but also confront deadly dangers.
When will 77 Blackout be released?
Since Black Bear, the film company behind “77 Blackout,” has yet to find a buyer for the production at the Cannes Market, it’s very probable that it won’t hit theaters this year. However, by examining the schedules of the leads, we can estimate a release date.
Tom Hardy is currently involved in multiple projects, including “Venom: The Last Dance” and “Mad Max: The Wasteland.” Given the demands of these major franchises, he may not have sufficient time to commit to the thriller.
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Similarly, Mahershala Ali is occupied with the making of “Blade,” the Marvel upcoming film about the beloved vampire hunter, and also has to reprise his voice role as Aaron Davis in “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” which is facing major production challenges.
Considering these factors, it seems unlikely that both Hardy and Ali will be available to commence pre-production of “77 Blackout” immediately. Therefore, we can anticipate its theatrical release in the last months of 2025, closer to November or December.
