Exclusive: Director Martin Campbell talks The Protege and doing First Female Action Film with Maggie Q
Now playing in theaters from Lionsgate is the assassin thriller The Protégé, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Maggie Q, and Michael Keaton.
Rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) and trained in the family business, Anna (Maggie Q) is the world’s most skilled contract killer. But when Moody – the man who was like a father to her and taught her everything she needs to know about trust and survival – is brutally killed, Anna vows revenge. As she becomes entangled with an enigmatic killer (Michael Keaton) whose attraction to her goes way beyond cat and mouse, their confrontation turns deadly and the loose ends of a life spent killing will weave themselves even tighter.
Directed by Martin Campbell and written by Richard Wenk, the film is produced by Arthur Sarkissian, Moshe Diamant, Rob Van Norden, Yariv Lerner, and Chris Milburn.
For Campbell, who best known for directing the James Bond films GoldenEye and Casino Royale, as well as Vertical Limit, The Legend of Zorro, Beyond Borders, Green Lantern and The Foreigner, this is his first female action film. HIs next film will be the action thriller film Memory, starring Liam Neeson, Guy Pearce, and Monica Bellucci.