Duo sees 'Bone' to screen

Simunek, Mailer team on martial arts feature

By DIANE GARRETT

A shared love of boxing and martial arts drew old pals Nick Simunek and Michael Mailer to "Blood and Bone," a project their respective shingles are producing with Rifkin-Eberts and Todd Traina.

Michael Andrews penned the story, about Bone, a mysterious drifter who falls into a mob-controlled street-fighting ring amid the back alleys of Los Angeles. Ben Ramsey ("Love and a Bullet") is directing the project.

Simunek and Matthew Binns of Remarkable Films optioned the script last summer and will co-produce it with Mailer, Traina and Arnold Rifkin and Christopher Eberts of Rifkin-Eberts.

Mailer brought the project to Traina, who then took it to Rifkin-Eberts, where he has set up several projects through his Red Rover Films shingle.

Mailer recently wrapped "Chatham" and is also working on a remake of early Alfred Hitchcock film "The Lodger" for Screen Gems.

Rifkin-Eberts is in production on "Night Train" and is in pre-production on "Stag Night"; the thriller "Deal"; and "True Believers."

Traina is partnering with Rifkin-Eberts on "The Woody" and "Morning Spy, Evening Spy," to be directed by George Hickenlooper.