EXCLUSIVE: Robert Rodriguez is jetting into Cannes with Brass Knuckle Films (BKF) business partner Alexis Garcia to introduce a slate led by the action-packed Latin ensemble Incógnito starring Jessica Alba and Michael Peña.
The prolific Texan filmmaker, whose credits include Machete and From Dusk Till Dawn and was last in Cannes with 2023 out of competition Midnight selection Hypnotic, is ramping up for an autumn start on the $45m project. Rodriguez will direct from a script by Juan Carlos Coto based on a story idea Rodriguez conceived with Alba and Peña.
The leads will play siblings Lena and Frank Aguila in the fast-moving story involving a covert family business hiding in plain sight. Rodriguez and Garcia are producing for BKF with Alba and Tracey Nyberg of Lady Metalmark, A Higher Standard’s Jeffrey Greenstein, and Nickel City Pictures’ Mark Fasano. A Higher Standard represents worldwide rights.
Rodriguez will meet buyers to discuss Incógnito and a seven-strong slate mostly in the sub-$15m range. Garcia, the former Fifth Season head of film who has produced Playdate and Nonnas, described the roster as “propulsive, action-forward, crowd-pleasing commercial fare” and says some budgets will go up to $50m.
Rodriguez plans to direct Smooth Operators from a script by DJ Cotrona and Brooks McLaren; as well as an untitled action film based on his original idea that will star Chilean martial artist Marko Zaror. TJ Fixman, writer of the Netflix thriller Carry-On, will helm the action thriller Future Proof.
BKF launched at 2025 SXSW and has raised $2m in development money through the Republic crowdfunding platform. The partners are working with a pool of writers to flesh out existing ideas and generate new ones.
“Most of these projects sit in a place where we either piece them together independently, license territories to a studio or streamer, or do a worldwide deal that covers the budget,” Rodriguez said. “We would love to feed the international theatrical buyers so they get a shot at a theatrical franchise.”
Garcia added, “The cost of independent production has escalated, especially for action, and we are filmmakers who can deliver something that looks like $100m on a $50m budget. Robert is the most efficient filmmaker in the business. He’s a director, producer, writer, editor, DP and composer, and is cost-conscious to boot.”
Where possible, productions will take place at Rodriguez’s facility Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas.
No comments yet