Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Orlando Bloom are set to topline Reset, a survival thriller directed by Matt Smukler (Wildflower) that will head into production in August.
Written by Jordan Rawlins, Reset follows a woman (Chopra Jonas) who wakes up in the middle of the wilderness, far from civilisation, with no memory of how she got there. Her only chance at survival is to trust a charming stranger (Bloom) — who may not be who he says he is.
On the casting process, Smukler said, “I was looking for a pairing where attraction and mistrust could effortlessly coexist. Priyanka and Orlando have this uncanny ability to make you believe both at once. Their chemistry is undeniable.”
Reset will be produced by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber under their Fratricidal Films banner, Michael Lazarovitch for Chemically Altered, and Matthew Rhodes of Rhodes Entertainment, along with Chopra Jonas’ Purple Pebble Pictures and Bloom’s Amazing Owl. Nadine de Barros will executively produce.
Fortitude International is financing and launching international sales at the Marché du Film in Cannes, with Verve Ventures, UTA, and WME Independent co-repping North American rights.
Producers Jon & Erich Hoeber said, “Jordan Rawlins and Matt Smukler have created a gripping story of survival, romance, suspense, and deceit, replete with shocking twists, and we’re thrilled to have partnered with Priyanka and Orlando to bring it to the screen.”
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, one of India’s most successful and powerful global stars, continues her strong international presence with this project. She is coming off the massive success of the action-adventure The Bluff, which debuted at No. 1 on Prime Video worldwide. Prior to that, she starred alongside Idris Elba and John Cena in Heads of State, Prime Video’s fourth most-watched film with over 75 million views. She also starred in and executive produced Netflix’s Oscar-nominated film The White Tiger. Through her banner Purple Pebble Pictures, she has backed several acclaimed projects including the Oscar-nominated short Anuja and the Oscar-nominated feature documentary To Kill a Tiger.
Next, she will be seen in Season 2 of Prime Video’s Citadel as well as in Varanasi, the much-awaited action-adventure directed by SS Rajamouli. She is represented by Anjula Acharia and UTA.
Orlando Bloom recently received strong reviews for The Cut, which he starred in and produced through Amazing Owl. He was also recently seen in the action comedy Deep Cover, which was nominated for Best Movie Made for Television at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards. He next stars opposite Rooney Mara and Kate Mara in Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard. He is represented by WME and Untitled Entertainment.
Matt Smukler is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose credits include the Sundance Grand Jury nominee Finders Keepers (The Orchard), as well as the documentary Wildflower, which he adapted into the narrative feature of the same name starring Kiernan Shipka. His upcoming feature projects include Sonny Lovejoy by Jana Savage, To Tim with Love with producer Ian Bryce, and The Portland Condition with producer Karen Lunder and Unwell Productions. Smukler is represented by Untitled Entertainment and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.
Jordan Rawlins began his career as a stuntman and professional poker player before transitioning into screenwriting. In addition to Reset, his script Bulldog Barb (co-written with Nicol Paone) is being produced by Bradley Pilz and Va Bene Productions with Tiffany Haddish and Snoop Dogg attached. His script The Pirate Queen is also in development, with Fan Bingbing attached to star and produce. He is repped by The Nord Group.
Jon and Erich Hoeber are represented by Verve and Peikoff Mahan. Rhodes is repped by Lichter, Grossman, Nichols. Lazarovitch is repped by CTA and Lauren Bishow of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
This collaboration marks yet another major international project for Priyanka Chopra Jonas, reaffirming her established stature as a leading global talent and producer.