Mark Wahlberg's Flight Risk: Release date, cast, plot, and everything we know so far

While Mark Wahlberg tends to lean toward heroic roles, in his latest film, he is all set to switch things up in his upcoming thriller, Flight Risk. The actor will be taking on a creepy and unsettling antagonistic role, a shift that promises to showcase a darker side of his acting repertoire.

In the 16th annual The Black List, an annual survey of most-like screenplays not yet produced, which happened in December 2020, Jared Rosenberg’s Flight Risk also ended up on the list with 9 Votes. Others who received similar votes on the list include Austin Everett’s Earworm and Lauren Meyering’s Horsegirl.

The film will be helmed by Mel Gibson, who will be making his directorial comeback once again for the first time since the six-time Oscar-nominated biographical film Hacksaw Ridge. Follow along with the article to learn more.

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When will Flight Risk be released?

Flight Risk is slated to be released by Lionsgate on January 24, 2025. Lionsgate revealed the release details in May 2024, alongside delivering another big release, Dave Bautista’s The Killer’s Game, scheduled to be released on September 13, 2024.

Another major title that Lionsgate will release in 2025, slightly before Wahlberg’s thriller, is Gerard Butler’s Den of Thieves: Pantera, announced to be released theatrically on January 10, 2025. Reportedly, the senior VPs of Lionsgate, Lauren Bixby, and Christopher Davis, successfully acquired Flight Risk rights.

After their successful collaboration in Hacksaw Ridge, Lionsgate and Gibson are reunited for Flight Risk, a breakout prospect at Cannes. Additionally, Gibson is also reuniting with Wahlberg, as they both starred together in Father Stu (2022) and Daddy’s Home 2 (2017).

During an interview with People, Wahlberg expressed his thoughts on working with Gibson and gave details regarding the filming:

"He knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it, but he was also open to collaborating. Again, to be shooting 15, 20 pages a day, something that I had never done before. I've shot down 'n dirty, but, like 30 days was the fastest I'd ever done a film. This was in 20 or 22 days."

The actor also praised Gibson for his prowess as a filmmaker and all the aspects that contribute to his exceptional storytelling and direction:

"Having seen Apocalypto a million times and Braveheart and every other film that he's directed, he's such a talented filmmaker. It was one of those things where, between the part and to getting to work with the filmmaker, for me, it's always top of the list: the script, the director, and the part are the three main components when making a choice."

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Cast & characters

Primary cast:

• Mark Wahlberg as (pretending to be) Daryl Booth
• Topher Grace as Winston
• Michelle Dockery as Madelyn Harris

Other cast:

• Paul Ben-Victor as Director Coleridge
• Savannah Joeckel as Paramedic
• Georgie S. Georgiev as Jeff
• Atanas Srebrev as a State Trooper

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Plot summary

Flight Risk centers on a U.S. Marshal, Madelyn Harris, tasked to transport a prisoner named Winston, who is to testify against an organized crime group. Winston is to be ferried from Alaska to New York on a small plane with Daryl Booth as the assigned pilot. The prisoner and the agent discover that their pilot, who was initially trusted with their safety, is actually a hitman.

Assigned to eliminate Winston, the pilot pretending to be the mob boss sends Daryl to ensure the death of the government’s asset before reaching New York City. With the tension rising and the drama unfolding high above, the Marshal must confront the threat and protect the prisoner to ensure justice is served.

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Stay tuned for more news and updates on Flight Risk and all your favorite TV shows and movies as 2024 progresses.