After first working together on 2010's
The A-Team, director Joe Carnahan (
Smokin' Aces) and Liam Neeson (
Taken) have reunited for the wilderness survival thriller
The Grey.
In the film, Neeson leads a group of oil roughnecks who, after a plane crash leaves them stranded in the wild, have to protect themselves against a pack of vicious wolves. In addition to Neeson,
The Grey features a talented supporting cast that includes Dermot Mulroney (
Zodiac), Joe Anderson (
Across the Universe), James Badge Dale (
The Pacific), and Dallas Roberts (
3:10 to Yuma).
The trailer indicates that the finished film may be somewhat of a departure for Carnahan. As
Smokin' Aces,
The A-Team, and the critically acclaimed
Narc proved, the director has a strong facility for shooting gritty urban combat, but
The Grey finds him staging thrills in a more adventure/horror vein.
However, early reports suggest that Carnahan is incredibly satisfied with his work on the film; in a
December 2010 interview with CHUD.com, Carnahan spoke about the need for a director to diversify his/her skills, to "stretch it out and make sure all the muscles are being worked, creatively." Carnahan also told CHUD that legendary effects wizard Greg Nicotero (
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season) was designing the film's animatronic predators.
Open Road and Scott Free Films have scheduled
The Grey's theatrical release date for January 27th, 2012.
Note: The trailer is also available at
Yahoo Movies in full HD.