Directed by Suicide Squad’s David Ayer, from a screenplay adapted by Stallone, the upcoming movie will star Fast & Furious star Statham in the titular role of Levon Cade (via Deadline).
Based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Dixon, Levon’s Trade will mark Stallone’s first screenplay since 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood and 2018’s Creed II. As the first of 11 books in Dixon’s Levon Cade thriller series, Stallone had previously developed the idea as a TV show under Balboa Productions.
“Levon Cade left his profession behind to work construction. He just wants to live an anonymous life and be a good dad to his daughter. But when a local girl vanishes, he’s asked to return to the skills that made him a mythic figure in the shadowy world of counterterrorism.
“Levon’s hunt for the missing college student takes him to the heart of a vicious criminal conspiracy, and his actions create a chain reaction that threatens all he holds dear. It’s time for him to return to his trade. And Levon’s trade is death,” reads the book synopsis.
Taking on production duties are Ayer and Chris Long for Cedar Park Entertainment, alongside Statham and Stallone. Also producing are John Friedberg and Bill Block.
Speaking of the movie, Block said: “I am thrilled to be reuniting with some of my most talented and longstanding partners on Levon’s Trade. I first worked with David Ayer on Fury and it was immediately clear that he is a director at the very top of his game.
“Jason and I have worked together on a number of films, and most recently the three of us collaborated on The Beekeeper. Levon’s Trade is going to be another spectacular action movie and I’m confident we’ve assembled the dream team to bring the first novel in this celebrated series to the big screen.”