Ben Kingsley Added to Cast of Bruce Willis Film WAKE

Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (THE BOXTROLLS, IRON MAN 3) has joined the cast of John Pogue’s (THE QUIET ONES) action thriller WAKE starring Bruce Willis (DIE HARD film franchise), and produced by Michael Benaroya (LAWLESS, MARGIN CALL), Tobin Armbrust (A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES, BEGIN AGAIN), David Alpert (upcoming AMERICAN ULTRA, AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’) and Chris Cowles (THE NUMBERS STATION, AUTOBAHN).

International Film Trust (IFT) is handling foreign rights to the film, which they are actively selling at the European Film Market. CAA is representing the domestic sales rights.

“Sir Ben is a truly one of a kind talent, with a unique subtlety to his work. He brings characters to life and charges them with emotion and power at just the right moments. He’s a tremendous addition to this cast, I can’t wait to see what he does with Kole, this film’s powerful antagonist,” said Benaroya.

“Oscar winner Ben is a dynamic addition to our cast who will further elevate the pedigree of our film and help create the unique action hit we’re all excited for,” said Christian de Gallegos, President of IFT.

The screenplay is written by Chris Borrelli (upcoming THE VATICAN TAPES) with revisions made by Pogue.

Set to start shooting in Cleveland on February 16, WAKE tells the story of Red Forrester (Willis), a sociopath with no fear, who returns to his childhood home on a remote island for his brother’s wake. When the island comes under siege, Red must save the very family that banished him from his ancestral home years ago.

Ben Kingsley’s film career spans over 100 films ranging from international box office hits including Oscar nominated THE BOXTROLLS and IRON MAN 3 to award-winning and critically acclaimed films such as Martin Scorsese’s HUGO and SHUTTER ISLAND, Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winner SCHINDLER’S LIST and Isabel Coixet’s ELEGY. Kingsley was nominated for an Oscar for his roles in HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, SEXY BEAST and BUGSY and he won the Oscar for Best Actor in Richard Attenborough’s Oscar winning film GANDHI. He will next be seen in LEARNING TO DRIVE opposite Patricia Clarkson and Terrence Malick’s KNIGHT OF CUPS.

Ben Kingsley is repped by CAA.