Thesp pair giddy-up for 'Horsemen'

Quaid, Zhang join Akerlund thriller

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Zhang

Quaid

Dennis Quaid, Ziyi Zhang and director Jonas Akerlund ("Spun") are mounting up for "The Horsemen," which "Stranger Than Fiction" production shingle Mandate Pictures has come aboard to finance and produce. David Callaham wrote the script.

Platinum Dunes' Brad Fuller and Andrew Form are producing; Mandate's Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane and Radar Pictures' Ted Field and Joe Rosenberg exec produce.

Quaid will play a bitter detective grieving over his wife's recent death. While investigating a case, he discovers a shocking connection between himself and the suspects in a serial killing spree linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Project was set up exactly four Halloweens ago, when the script was optioned by Radar, which had a joint venture with Platinum Dunes. "Horsemen" stayed in the barn until Mandate stepped up with the bucks.

Radar's Mike Weber will co-produce.

Quaid next will be seen in Sony's "Vantage Point" and is in prep for "Smart People." Zhang just finished "The Banquet" and will star in "Shanghai" and a remake of "Seven Samurai" at the Weinstein Co.

WMA reps Quaid and Ziyi. Latter is also repped by manager Ling Lucas.

Akerlund’s repped by ICM and Management 360, Callaham by UTA and Management 360.