A dispute between Columbia Pictures and actor Jason Statham led to Statham exiting The Man from Toronto. He will be replaced by Woody Harrelson. Apparently, Statham wished for the comedy-action movie to be R-rated while the studio executives insisted on making it have a PG-13 rating in order to reach wider audiences. As no side was willing to budge, they have parted ways.
58-years-old Harrelson will now join Kevin Hart on screen, playing the titular man from Toronto, “the world’s deadliest assassin.” Hart will portray Teddy, a New Yorker who, while renting an Airbnb apartment, is mistaken for a notorious Killer.
Patrick Hughes who previously directed The Hitman’s Bodyguard will direct. Robbie fox has written the script after working with the movie’s producer Jason Blumenthal. Blumenthal is producing the movie with Todd Black and Steve Tisch under their Escape Artists banner.
As Statham dropped out of the project just last week, the studio has found his replacement quickly enough. Shooting is about to begin only in a few weeks and Sony and Columbia hope for a November release date.
