Sydney Sweeney to Star in and Executive Produce Justin Lin's "That Man From Rio"

Following her latest movie "Christy" bowing at the AFI Fest last week, Sydney Sweeney is looking to deliver another knockout punch with her next film, partnering with an A-list director to help deliver the blow. 

Apple Original Films is developing "That Man From Rio," a new adventure comedy pic starring and executive produced by Sweeney, with Justin Lin directing. 

The movie is a modern take on the 1964 French film of the same name, with Lin producing through his Perfect Storm Entertainment along with Oscar nominee Kevin Walsh, who will produce through The Walsh Company under his first-look deal with Apple TV. Chase Palmer penned the script.

The original movie starred Jean-Paul Belmondo and Françoise Dorléac and follows a young private on military leave who comes to the rescue of his girlfriend, who’s been abducted by thieves and brought to Rio de Janeiro. An extravagant adventure ensues. 

It was an inspiration to many directors who grew up in the era including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, who would later credit it as one of the inspirations for the Indiana Jones character.

Sources added that Walsh was also a massive fan of the film for years and had been pursuing rights for some time. After securing them, Lin and Sweeney were high on the project and said yes. 

The project marks the latest collaboration for Apple Original Films and Sweeney, who stars in the dramatic thriller "Echo Valley" alongside Julianne Moore, now streaming globally on Apple TV. 

The project also reunites Sweeney with Walsh, who produced "Echo Valley".

Under his production banner, Walsh has produced Apple Original Films including upcoming Being Heumann from Oscar winner Siân Heder, as well as The Instigators and Ridley Scott’s multi-Oscar-nominated feature "Napoleon."