Antonio Banderas has boarded Jesse V. Johnson‘s motion thriller  “Above and Under,” produced by Spain’s AF Movies, with Christian Mercuri’s Capstone Photos buying worldwide distribution. 

Laura Marano (“Girl Chook,” “The Royal Remedy”) stars alongside Christina Ochoa (“Animal Kingdom,” “Blood Drive”), Mario Tardón (“Risen”) and Banderas. 

Written by Tony Giordano and helmed by British stuntman turned writer-director Johnson, “Above and Under” has begun filming in Spain.

Capstone International will oversee worldwide distribution, with London-based Seize, Capstone’s current three way partnership with Signature Ent., dealing with worldwide gross sales.

Described as an “action-packed thriller, filled with twists,” the movie begins with a bunch of buddies setting off for an unforgettable trip. What begins as an journey of partying and diving shortly turns right into a nightmare when they’re attacked by criminals in open waters.

Trapped within the depths of the ocean, surrounded by sharks and with a ruthless enemy lurking above, Tatiana – the lead position performed by Marano –  should use all her wit and braveness to outlive and save her buddies. 

Within the movie, Banderas performs Burns, mentioned to be a person cast in violence. “Broad-shouldered and cold-eyed, his mere presence instructions respect and worry. Calculating and methodical, he leaves nothing to probability. To him, the ocean is not any thriller,”  a synopsis says.

Effectively-known as a director for movies akin to “Savage Canine,”  “Accident Man,” “Avengement” and “Triple Menace,” Johnson’s work as a stunt performer absorb “Mission Inconceivable III,” “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and “Whole Recall.”

Based by producer-director Frank Ariza, AF Movies has practically 30 titles beneath its belt, together with function movies such because the Ariza-directed comedy “¡Ay, mi madre!” 

“Cash Heist’s” Jaime Lorente starred in “Reversión,” now in put up, produced by Ariza. Ariza co-wrote and co-directed supernatural thriller “El vestido,” with “The Orphanage star” Belén Rueda. AF additionally produces TV sequence for platforms and networks (Mediaset’s “Señor, dame paciencia,” HBO Max’s “Mariachis”) and has a partnership with Match Level to develop worldwide co-productions.

A drive in international indie cinema, Capstone is led by trade vet Christian Mercuri, who has constructed a powerful legacy, having offered, financed and produced high-quality business function movies akin to “The Wolf of Wall Road,” “Dumb and Dumber To” and “Fall.” 

Marano is repped by Untitled Leisure, Christina Ochoa by Buchwald and Banderas by Emanuel Nunez at NuCo Media Group and George Hayum at Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman.