EXCLUSIVE: Melissa Barrera (Scream VI) has joined survival thriller Black Tides as co-lead, starring opposite John Travolta in the Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger) film.
The film has officially begun principal photography in Gran Canaria, Spain, with Travolta’s daughter Ella Bleu Travolta (The Poison Rose), Álvaro Mel (A Perfect Story) and Dylan Torrell (Islands) also aboard in key roles.
As we first told you ahead of Cannes, Black Tides follows Bill Pierce (Travolta), an estranged father trying to reconnect with his daughter Rebecca (Barrera) and grandson Sebastian (Torrell) when their sailboat is attacked by rogue orcas off the southern Spanish coast—setting off a fight for survival across open waters.
Written by Chris Sparling (Greenland) and Ángel Agudo (Apocalypse Z), the film is produced by Adrián Guerra and Nuria Valls for Nostromo Pictures (Buried, Bird Box Barcelona).
The Solution Entertainment Group handles international sales excluding Spain and will continue to cook up deals with buyers ahead of the upcoming American Film Market.
“Melissa brings both fire and vulnerability to a role that demands it all—emotionally, physically, and cinematically,” said director Harlin, the action vet known for Cliffhanger and Die Hard 2. “She and John are movie magic together, and they elevate every beat of this story.”
“Shooting at sea is one of the hardest things you can do in film but the footage we’re getting is stunning,” added producer Adrián Guerra. “The cast has bonded in a way that’s rare and powerful, and Renny’s directing chops are on full display—balancing raw spectacle with real human emotion.”
The film will mark 25 year-old Ella Bleu Travolta’s fifth screen role. In post she has 2023 feature Get Lost, which is awaiting release, and she is also in production with Sosie Bacon on comedy-horror Nice People. Her two prior film appearances were in movies starring her father, 2019’s The Poison Rose and 2009 film Old Dogs.
Barrera is represented by Independent Artist Group (IAG), Range Media Partners, and Gang Tyre; Bleu Travolta is represented by Mosaic and Gersh; Mel is represented by STA Talent Agency; Torrell by Allen & Abel.
The post Melissa Barrera To Co-Star With John Travolta In Thriller ‘Black Tides’; Ella Bleu Travolta & Álvaro Mel Also Aboard appeared first on Deadline.
