Fox to remake Metro Manila

FIP president Sanford Panitch is understood to be eying foreign-language remakes of the heist thriller and will also develop a version for English-speaking audiences.

The Tagalog-language story premiered in Park City in January and centres on a Filipino farmer who moves his family closer to Manila in search of a better life.

The man finds work as an armoured truck driver and learns he must collude with a corrupt colleague in order to protect his family.

Ellis co-wrote the original with Frankie E Flowers and produced with Mathilde Charpentier.  

“Not unlike the experience I had watching Gareth Evans’ The Raid, we were knocked out by Sean’s film,” said Panitch.

“It is thrilling that Fox International Productions embraced my film and sees the potential in future versions of the story,” said Ellis, whose previous directing credits include Cashback and The Broken.

ICM Partners represents Ellis and negotiated the deal on his behalf.