Recently, we shared the news that Deep Blue Sea director Renny Harlin is directing the new orca survival thriller Black Tides. Well, the movie has landed one of its lead roles, casting John Travolta.
Yep, Travolta is joining the cast of this watery nightmare, which is set to start filming later this summer. And get this – they’re going old school with a lot of practical effects.
John Travolta brings the perfect combination of grit, depth, vulnerability and charisma to the character of Bill Pierce, the estranged father, that achingly captures the tragedies of family dynamics,” said Harlin. “I can’t wait to show fans of big screen cinema how his movie star presence and physicality will add gravity to the epic action sequences and deeply emotional personal drama. As a director, I consider myself fortunate to join a list of acclaimed filmmakers who’ve had the privilege of getting to know John as an artist and a person.”
“You build a film like this around very few people. John’s one of them. He brings the history, the craft, and the instinct that lets a character land in a way that lasts,“ added producer Adrián Guerra..
The story centers on Rebecca, hoping a sunny trip to Spain will help heal some family rifts with her estranged dad (Travolta), Bill, and her young son, Sebastian. But their boat ride through the Strait of Gibraltar goes south real fast. They become the main target of a relentless and super-aggressive pod of orcas. So, while Rebecca’s dealing with some deep emotional baggage, she’s also gotta step up and become an unlikely action hero in a brutal battle against these seriously smart and deadly sea predators.
And just in case you thought orcas were just big, cuddly sea puppies, think again. We’re talking about potential 33-foot-long beasts weighing 22,000 pounds with a whole lotta teeth. These aren’t your average dolphins. Orcas are intelligent, hunt in packs, and sometimes kill for kicks – even great white sharks! Who wants to mess with something that can take down a great white? Not me! They’ve also been known to attack and sink boats, which the movie is partially inspired by. So yeah, this member of the dolphin family is definitely not one to be trifled with.
Odds are you recognize Travolta. He’s been in many movies, including Grease, Pulp Fiction, Saturday Night Fever, and, most recently, High Rollers.
While Harlin is primarily known for his action films, he’s no stranger to horror. His filmography includes the memorable A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, the supernatural thriller The Covenant, and more recently, his ambitious three-film remake of The Strangers, with The Strangers: Chapter Two currently scheduled for release on September 26, 2025.
Chris Sparling (Buried) and Ángel Agudo (Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End) penned the script for Black Tides. Get ready for an action-packed, chilling tale of survival.
In the meantime, if you are looking for a list of the best aquatic horror movies, we’ve got you covered. We’ve got a list of 15 Aquatic Horror Movies that are a must-see!
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