Kristina Roberts
Sometimes, big changes in the movie world happen quietly. But other times, they make a loud entrance — and this is one of those moments. Less than twelve hours after Paramount Pictures officially joined forces with Skydance, the new leaders at the studio have already made a bold and exciting move. Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, who now serve as the co-chairs of the new Paramount, have managed to get their hands on one of Hollywood’s most wanted film projects. This movie is called High Side, and it’s set to star one of the most popular actors of today, Timothée Chalamet. It will be directed by James Mangold, a filmmaker known for creating intense and heartfelt stories.
For Chalamet and Mangold, this isn’t their first time working together. They recently collaborated on the movie A Complete Unknown, which was nominated for Best Picture and earned a surprising $140 million at the box office for Searchlight Pictures just last winter. That success seems to have built a strong working bond between the two, and now they’re ready to team up again — this time, with an even more original idea.
The movie High Side is based on a short novel, or novella, written by Jaime Oliveira. Oliveira himself is turning his own story into the screenplay for the film. The story follows a former MotoGP racer — someone who used to be one of the fastest motorcycle riders in the world. But his career was cut short after a terrible crash that he has never been able to forget. Since then, his life has slowed down. He runs a small garage, fixes bikes and cars, and spends a lot of time caring for his father, who struggles with substance abuse.
Just when life seems steady, tragedy strikes again. This time, it’s not an accident on the racetrack. His estranged brother, who has been living away from him for years, suddenly comes back — but not for a happy family reunion. The brother is in serious trouble and is running from the FBI. He pulls the former racer into a dangerous plan: a series of bank robberies. And how will they escape after each crime? By using the racer’s incredible motorcycle skills to get away fast.
The movie is being developed and produced by Peter Chernin and David Ready at Chernin Entertainment. This production company has worked with James Mangold before on Ford vs. Ferrari, another film that mixed high-speed racing with emotional storytelling. Because of this past success, many people expect High Side to carry the same mix of adrenaline and heart.
It is not yet known which other studios tried to get the rights to this movie, but it’s clear that Paramount saw something special in the project and moved fast to secure it.
In a statement about the acquisition of High Side, Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein expressed their excitement about working with such talented people. “We’re thrilled to be in business with visionary artists like James and Timothée, and exceptional collaborators like Peter and David at Chernin. What Jaime has created reflects the kind of bold, original storytelling we’re committed to championing at Paramount – and we couldn’t be more excited to hit the ground running with ‘High Side.’”
James Mangold also shared his thoughts on the project and why he decided to move forward with Paramount. “David [Ellison], Dana, and Josh display a real commitment to original, story-driven filmmaking on the big screen, and this passion made it easy for Timothée, Peter, and me to land on this project. Timothée is a trusted collaborator, a generational artist, and a person I adore. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and work together again.”
For many film fans, this announcement is not just about a new movie. It’s about what it means for the “new” Paramount. The Paramount-Skydance merger is one of the biggest studio shake-ups in recent Hollywood history, and people have been curious about what direction the studio would take under its new leadership. By choosing High Side as their very first major project, Goldberg and Greenstein are sending a clear message: they want to focus on bold, original ideas, not just sequels or safe bets.
The involvement of Timothée Chalamet is also a big part of the excitement. Chalamet has quickly become one of the most admired actors of his generation, known for his intense, emotional performances and his ability to completely disappear into a role. Whether he’s playing a romantic lead, a young king, or a pop culture icon, he brings depth and nuance that makes audiences feel connected to his characters. In High Side, fans are curious to see how he will transform into a retired racer haunted by his past and pulled into a dangerous criminal world.
For James Mangold, this is another opportunity to show why he is considered one of the most versatile directors in Hollywood. From Logan to Walk the Line, and from Ford vs. Ferrari to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Mangold has proven that he can handle action, drama, and emotional storytelling with equal skill. Working with a story that mixes high-speed motorcycle racing with a deeply personal family drama seems like the perfect challenge for him.
The film’s writer, Jaime Oliveira, is also in an exciting position. Many writers don’t get the chance to adapt their own work for the screen, but Oliveira is bringing his own voice and vision directly into the movie. This means that the emotional tone and core ideas of the novella will likely stay true in the film, giving it a strong sense of authenticity.
Although no release date has been announced yet, industry insiders expect High Side to begin production soon. With such a strong creative team and a thrilling, character-driven story, it is already being talked about as one of the most anticipated projects of the next few years.
In the fast-moving world of Hollywood, big announcements happen every day. But High Side feels different. It’s not just another film deal — it’s the first big statement from a newly merged studio, showing that they’re ready to take risks, trust talented creators, and aim for stories that blend excitement with real emotional depth. If the final film delivers on the promise of its premise and its team, audiences might be in for a ride as thrilling as the races it will portray on screen.
