AceShowbiz - Left Seat is officially underway with production starting this week at Bavaria Studios in Munich, Germany. The film is a tightly focused thriller featuring Michelle Rodriguez and Richard Gere in lead roles, with shooting taking place on a Volume stage.

In the story, Rodriguez portrays a pharmaceutical representative who unexpectedly must pilot a small charter plane after the pilot becomes unconscious mid-flight. With the plane caught in a dangerous storm and running low on fuel, she receives critical guidance from a man over the radio, played by Gere, who helps her navigate the perilous situation in an effort to land safely.

The film also includes a supporting role from actor James Weber Brown. The contained nature of the thriller draws comparisons to the 2013 film Locke, which starred Tom Hardy in a similarly intense, single-location narrative that largely relies on the lead actor’s performance to carry the story.

Ben Younger, director of the Miles Teller boxing drama Bleed for This, is directing Left Seat. Bringing his personal experience as a pilot to the project, Younger co-wrote the script with David M. Crabtree. The screenplay was originally written in 2017 by Crabtree, who collaborated with his former USC classmate Jason Michael Berman to develop the project further.

Production companies involved include A/Vantage Pictures, led by producer Jason Michael Berman, alongside Younger, Crabtree, Maximilian Leo, and Jonas Katzenstein. Executive producers on the film are Matthew Lindner, Peter Guber, Jordan Moldo, Mike Downing, Daniel Sonnabend, Andrea Kuehnel, and Joshua S. Siegel.

This project marks the first time Richard Gere and Michelle Rodriguez have worked together. Gere is currently featured in Paramount+’s The Agency: Central Intelligence, while Rodriguez recently appeared as Letty in Fast X and is slated to reprise this role in the upcoming Fast Forever.

Additional companies supporting Left Seat include Mandalay Pictures and augenschein Filmproduktion, which is also providing financing along with Juniper Productions and StoneCastle Pictures. The project benefits from funding by FFF Bayern and the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF). Anton is managing international sales, while WME Independent is handling sales for North America.

Left Seat promises to be an intense, character-driven thriller that highlights the talents of its stars in a suspenseful airborne drama. With strong production backing and international collaboration, the film aims to capture audiences with its gripping storyline and contained setting.