Director Doug Liman and Tom Cruise have reunited for the the drug cartel film Mena, but The Hollywood Reporter has learned the film has been retitled to American Made by Universal. Along with the title change, the film’s release date has been switched from January 6th, 2017, to September 29th, 2017.
Universal retitles Tom Cruise crime movie MENA to AMERICAN MADE, moves it from January 6, 2017, to September 29, 2017.
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) August 9, 2016
Mena (American Made) tells the story of Barry Seal (Tom Cruise), a TWA pilot who is recruited by the CIA to help counter the emerging communist threat in Central America. Seal’s role in this major CIA covert operation led in turn to his involvement with the Medellin cartel, which ultimately embarrassed the Reagan White House after the Iran-Contra scandal became public.
The pair previously worked together on the thrilling science fiction action flick Edge of Tomorrow.
It’s possible the change of release could allow Doug Liman time to jump into pre-production on Fox’s Gambit, before having to make the press tour for American Made, which would have likely conflicted a little with Gambit. Liman’s other projects includes The Wall for Amazon and Lionsgate’s Chaos Walking starring Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley.
American Made will now fly onto screens on September 29th, 2017.
SOURCE: THR