Vanessa Hudgens will join Mads Mikkelsen to headline the action spy thriller The Black Kaiser, directed by Derrick Borte (Unhinged).
Borte has replaced Jonas Akerlund, who was previously announced as director. The film is written by Jayson Rothwell, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel Polar by Victor Santos. It is set to shoot this fall.
In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mikkelsen), the worlds most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers, and becomes their No. 1 target.
The Black Kaiser is a Constantin Film, JB Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment production, and will be produced by Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer, two of the producers behind the Resident Evil franchise. Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment are also producing, and Martin Moszkowicz and Mikkelsen are executive producing. XYZ Films will executive produce and will continue to sell worldwide rights at the March du Film in Cannes.
Hudgens is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, the Lede Company and Ziffren Brittenham. Mikkelsen is repped by UTA, Art Management and Viewpoint. Borte is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency, Ensemble Entertainment, Narrative and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz.