Zac Efron has signed on to star in an untitled thriller for Mandate Pictures. Leslie Dixon, the veteran screenwriter behind Freaky Friday and The Thomas Crown Affair, is writing the script.

The project reteams Efron and Dixon after they worked together on Hairspray.

The plot isn’t being revealed but Mandate calls it a “sexy thriller.”

Frequent Mandate collaborator Greg Shapiro of Kingsgate Films (The Hurt Locker), Jason Barrett (Efron-starring 17 Again), and Dixon will produce the film. Efron and Mandate’s Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Nicole Brown will oversee the film for Mandate.

“Mandate is excited to bring our partnership model to this wonderfully talented group of artistic entrepreneurs,” said Kahane. “We feel very fortunate to help guide this sexy and fun rollercoaster ride to the screen.”

Rob McEntegart, Mandate’s head of business affairs, and Dan Freedman, SVP of business affairs, negotiated the deals for the company.

Zac Efron is represented by CAA, Alchemy Entertainment, and Patti Felker of Felker, Toczek, Gellman, Suddleson.

Leslie Dixon is represented by CAA and attorney Michael Gendler of Gendler & Kelly.

Greg Shapiro is represented by Darren Trattner of Jackoway, Tyerman, Wertheimer, Austen, Mandelbaum, Morris & Klein.

Finally, Jason Barrett is represented by Bob Wallerstein of Hirsch, Wallerstein, Hayum, Matlof + Fishman.

Topics