It’s been a long time coming, butGuy Ritchie’s darkly comedic espionage thrillerOperation Fortune: Ruse de Guerreis finally coming to theaters. StarringJason Stathamas the titular super-spy Orson Fortune, the film sees Fortune team with a group of skilled operatives and a Hollywood movie star for an undercover job to thwart a deal of deadly, technologically advanced armaments and save the world. Before Statham and company can sneak into theaters everywhere, Collider can exclusively unveil a new Alamo Drafthouse Guest Selects video where Ritchie explains his inspirations for his new film.
It’s no secret looking atOperation Fortunethat Ritchie was aiming to capture the feel of the classic bombastic action-adventure film, but when it came to espionage, he looked to four films for guidance -The Hunt for Red October,Crimson Tide,Three Days of the Condor, andWhere Eagles Dare. The former is considered an all-time classic in the genre for both its global stakes and high tension, both of which Ritchie loves. Though, more than anything he loves the performance bySean Conneryfor how he carries the serious premise of the film forward.Crimson Tide, meanwhile, was a film Ritchie admits to being obsessed with when he first saw it in his younger years. A common thread between these films andOperation Fortuneis global stakes. Ritchie loves espionage films where the world is in the balance, but he looks toCrimson Tidefor how to create compelling characters that can be relatable even if they play the “villain” of the story likeGene Hackman’s Captain Frank Ramsey.
Ritchie likesThree Days of the Condorfor two main reasons -Robert Redfordand the tone of realism. He appreciated the contrast of espionage happening against the backdrop of an average world and action sequences that felt heavy for that very reason. Like withRed October, he loves his dynamic leading men, and it’s exactly he puts emphasis on the veteran Statham inOperation Fortune. Of all the films, however, it’sWhere Eagles Darethat Ritchie says he wants to replicate for the simple reason that it felt big, it felt Hollywood withClint Eastwoodheadlining, and it felt exotic. Again, that’s where Statham and the all-star cast come in - to help create a fun, escapist fantasy that anyone can come in and get lost in.
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Everything We Know AboutOperation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
Ritchie co-wroteOperation FortunewithIvan AtkinsonandMarn Davies. Statham has been the director’s leading man of choice for several films now, previously working with the actor onLock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,Snatch, andWrath of Man, but Ritchie brought in some Hollywood firepower to surround him this time around.Aubrey Plaza,Cary Elwes, andBugzy Malonealso star as the members of Fortune’s team,Hugh Grantas the billionaire arms dealer, andJosh Hartnettas the Hollywood movie star brought along for the ride. Originally slated for June 09, 2025, the film will finally get to show everything Ritchie learned from his favorite spy films on March 3.
Check out the exclusive Alamo Drafthouse video below to see the director discuss hisOperation Fortuneinspirations in depth:
