Josh Hartnett to Lead All Day & All Night, a New Action-Thriller from Tommy Wirkola
Josh Hartnett is set to star in and produce the high-octane action-thriller All Day & All Night, a project brought to life by writer-director Tommy Wirkola and writer John Niven. The Norwegian filmmaker behind Violent Night and the Dead Snow franchise will also serve as director, with XYZ Films financing the production and IPR.VC providing backing. ABC’s AFM lineup will showcase the project as it gears up for a 2026 shoot.
Creative Team and Production Plans
Wirkola will collaborate with XYZ Films, a company that has previously partnered with the helmer on projects like Violent Night and The Trip. XYZ’s President of Film, Guy Danella, confirmed they will oversee and produce All Day & All Night for the company, while also announcing plans for worldwide sales at AFM. The production is slated to begin in 2026, positioning the film for a brisk delivery window in the coming years.
The project reunites Wirkola with collaborators who have previously brought his Norwegian-to-English transitions to life. XYZ Films has been involved in Wirkola’s work in the past, including the English remake of The Trip and the Hot Docs-style collaboration on Dead Snow 2: Red Vs Dead. The newest thriller continues that tradition of blending blockbuster energy with Wirkola’s distinct genre spin.
Plot and Characters
At the center of All Day & All Night is Billy Davies, a reformed bank robber whose daughter earns admission to Harvard. Hartnett’s character returns to crime to fund his child’s tuition, only for a bank heist to spiral out of control. The ensuing chaos leads Billy and his crew to stumble onto the set of a failing reality TV show. The premise then centers on Billy fighting to stay on air long enough to devise an escape, while law enforcement and mobsters pursue him and the show’s producers scramble to keep the broadcast alive for ratings. The setup promises a claustrophobic blend of bank-robbing grit and meta-reality chaos, with darkly comic energy and tense action sequences.
Financial Backing and Global Sales
XYZ Films will finance All Day & All Night with backing from IPR.VC, signaling strong investor confidence in Wirkola’s ability to blend high-energy action with sharp genre twists. The film will be pitched to buyers worldwide at AFM next month, underscoring the industry’s appetite for ambitious, character-driven thrillers with broad commercial appeal.
A Proven Crew and A-List Potential
Hartnett, a celebrated screen presence known for work across television and film, is currently in post on MGM/Amazon’s Verity and is also connected to Netflix’s Untitled Newfoundland Project. Wirkola’s ongoing slate includes Violent Night 2 and Shiver for Sony, with performances by notable actors like Phoebe Dynevor. The collaboration with Hartnett places a high expectation on delivering a slick, suspenseful ride that leverages Hartnett’s versatility and Wirkola’s trademark propulsion.
Industry Context and Future Prospects
The project’s progress aligns with a broader trend of established indie producers and financiers placing bets on thrillers that blend real-world stakes with cinematic adrenaline. As AFM moves into full swing, All Day & All Night aims to capture buyers’ imagination with its audacious premise and a proven star in Hartnett. The film’s trajectory will likely influence future collaborations between Wirkola and XYZ, as both parties look to capitalize on cross-border appeal and the expanding appetite for hybrid action-thrillers.
What to Expect
With a tight, high-stakes premise, a director known for high-energy genre work, and a lead actor who can handle both dramatic and action beats, All Day & All Night promises to deliver an arresting blend of tension, wit, and cinematic flair. As AFM approaches, industry watchers will be paying close attention to how the project positions itself against contemporary action-thrillers and how Hartnett’s populist appeal translates to a global audience.
