Bruce Willis Thriller ‘Wake’ Shuts Down Amid Budget Woes

After about a week to 10 days into production, the Bruce Willis-starring indie Wake has shut down due to financial woes, sources tell Deadline. “It was headed in that direction for a while,” said one source with knowledge of the production issues. The thriller directed by John Pogue, which also stars Ben Kinglsey, Ellen Burstyn and Piper Perabo, is being produced by Michael Benaroya, Tobin Armbrust, David Alpert and Chris Cowles, with Frank Hildebrand listed as executive producer.

It’s known that the production has called around in recent days to try to help secure financing. It’s not clear that the can keep the actors together as other offers and other projects are already on the table. All of the actors have returned from the cold Midwest waiting to receive word on the fate of the film.

“Benaroya Pictures is working quickly to remedy the delay in production on the feature film Wake, and we are optimistic we will resume principal photography in approximately 2-3 weeks,” the company said in a statement. Filming was underway in Cleveland.

International Film Trust handled international sales in Berlin during this month’s European Film Market. CAA repped domestic rights.

The story follows a sociopath with no fear (Willis) who returns to his childhood home on a remote island for his brother’s wake.  When the island comes under siege, he must save the very family that banished him from his ancestral home years ago. The shutdown was first reported in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.