Nick Meyer’s return to the frontlines continues apace with news that the Sierra Pictures chief has teamed up with Brett Ratner to launch White Knuckle Pictures.

The venture will finance, develop, produce and distribute action films and thrillers in the mid-budget range and Sierra will handle international sales.

The partners are currently collaborating on the horror project Mother’s Day that Ratner is producing, with Meyer overseeing sales.

White Knuckle represents the latest undertaking for Meyer, who resurfaced last year with Sierra Pictures after departing as president of Paramount Vantage in December 2008.

Sierra acts as fund manager and exclusive sales agent for the Incentive projects and sells Sidney Kimmel projects and select individual films. Meyer previously served as head of international at Lionsgate.

“The goal is to deliver exciting, audience-driven movies within modest budget parameters that combine Brett’s sensibilities with an indie production model,” Meyer said.

“I love the idea of pairing Nick’s business savvy and clout in the international marketplace with inspired, passionate film-makers to help them create the kind of rousing and original movies that people want to see,” Ratner said. 

Sierra’s current slate includes Passion Play with Mickey Rourke, Megan Fox and Bill Murray, Sundance premiere Hesher starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Mark Ruffalo’s feature directorial debut and Sundance special jury prize-winner Sympathy For Delicious.

Ratner’s directing credits include the Rush Hour trilogy, Red Dragon and X-Men: The Last Stand. He is next set to direct Tower Heist for Imagine Entertainment and Universal.  Ratner’s Rat Entertainment has a development and production financing deal with Reliance Big Entertainment and he is currently involved as executive producer on the Sundance hit Catfish for Rogue Films.

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