Samuel L. Jackson & John Cusack to Costar in CELL Film

Benaroya Pictures and The Genre Company announced today they have set Samuel L. Jackson to co-star with John Cusack in the apocalyptic thriller CELL, based on the bestselling novel by Stephen King. Tod "Kip" Williams will direct, with production set to begin in January. Benaroya Pictures is financing.

Samuel L. Jackson most recently co-starred in last year's Django Unchained and next appears in the upcoming films Oldboyand Robocop as well as Captain America 2: Winter Soldier and The Avengers sequel. He is currently in production on Secret Service. In CELL, Jackson will play Tom McCourt, an engineer and former soldier who escapes from Boston along with Cusack's character, Clay Riddell, after a mysterious pulse, transmitted by cell phones, spreads like a virus through the human population.

"It's really exciting to have such a great cast continue to come together on this project," said Benaroya Pictures principal, Michael Benaroya. "Our goal is to create exciting commercial fare with top talent to really deliver on the concept of an 'elevated genre' film."

Producing the project are Richard Saperstein (Se7en, Hancock), Michael Benaroya (Lawless, Margin Call), Brian Witten (Chernobyl Diaries, Friday the 13th, Final Destination) and Shara Kay (Silent Night). While President of Dimension Films, Saperstein oversaw the Stephen King adaptations, The Mist, directed by Frank Darabont, and 1408, which also starred Cusack and Jackson, and grossed over $130 million worldwide.

The screenplay for CELL was written by Stephen King and Adam Alleca (Last House on the Left). John Cusack, Edward Mokhtarian, Armen Aghaeian, Xavier Gens, and Laurence Freed will executive produce. Mark Leyner and Ben Insler will co-produce.

International Film Trust will be presenting the project to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market.

Samuel L. Jackson is represented by ICM, Anonymous Content, and attorney Jeffrey Bernstein of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein.

Paradigm represents Stephen King, and is co-representing the film for the US market with CAA, which represents Benaroya Pictures and John Cusack. Tod Williams is represented by ICM.

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