Limassol, Cyprus. Copper Island has begun filming Scorpion in Cyprus with Clive Owen leading the cast of the action thriller produced and financed by the Limassol-based company. The production started on July 6 and is due to conclude in Bulgaria at the end of the month.
Cast and production details
Owen, whose credits include Closer, Children of Men and Gemini Man, stars alongside Alex Pettyfer, known for Magic Mike, The Butler and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and Reda Elazouar, whose credits include Sex Education and The Family Plan.
The cast also includes Ronan Summers, known for Guardians of the Galaxy, Jake Ryan, known for War Machine, Mark Rhino Smith, known for Creed, Joey Ansah, known for The Bourne Ultimatum, Alex Cooke, known for Blacklight, and Luke Bouchier, known for The Enforcer.
According to Copper Island, Scorpion has one of the largest per-day budgets for a film produced in Cyprus, placing it among the most significant international film projects made locally.
Significance for Cyprus
Copper Island said the decision to film Scorpion in Cyprus demonstrates that international productions starring top-tier talent can be produced on the island and could help pave the way for more higher-budget international films in the future.
Company slate
The production comes during a busy year for Copper Island, whose slate includes recent premieres and worldwide releases involving major international film names.
These include The Leader, which recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the worldwide release of Dead Man’s Wire, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Bill Skarsgård, Al Pacino and Colman Domingo. The company is also linked to Eden, directed by Ron Howard and starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney.
In addition, Copper Island’s Matt Murphie is an executive producer on the upcoming Anxious People, starring Angelina Jolie.
Local productions and company statement
Copper Island has also supported local productions, including financing and creative development on Apart, by Stelana Kliris, which is seeking international distribution, and The Well, by Mario Piperides, which is completing post-production at the company’s Limassol facilities.
Company founder Matt Murphie said the team was “delighted to be producing Scorpion in Cyprus”, adding that “we’d like to thank the Cyprus Film Commission for its support and the exceptional local crew helping bring this project to the screen.”