After multiple postponements (due to terrorist attacks), “Bastille Day” was finally released in theaters across Europe earlier this spring, although it didn’t stick around very long in some countries – notably France, where it was pulled from theaters in reaction to the terrorist attack in Nice, which took place on Bastille Day, July 14.

High Top Releasing has now set a November 18 (this Friday) premiere in USA theaters, as well as On Demand and on Digital, simultaneously. High Top will release the film under a new title – “The Take” – maybe in a bid to dissociate it from its past distribution struggles; although films are released with different titles in different countries routinely, so there may not be any other intention behind the name switch, other than the company may feel that “Bastille Day” won’t mean much to the average American movie-watcher, and “The Take” is more accessible.

Bastille Day is the French National Day, which is equivalent to July 4/Independence Day here in the USA.




The Paris-set thriller sees star Idris Elba battle terrorists in the City of Light, in a project from Vendome Pictures and Anonymous Content, with James Watkins (“The Woman in Black”) directing, from a script penned by Andrew Baldwin (he also scripted a “Bourne” sequel, which I suppose should give you some idea of what to expect from “Bastille Day”/”The Take”).

Co-starring Richard Madden, the story follows Michael Mason (Madden), an American small-time thief living in Paris who accidentally becomes a target for the CIA when he steals a bag that contains some explosives, which of course he isn’t aware of initially. Sean Briar (Elba), the CIA agent on the case, has to determine Mason’s guilt or innocence, as he soon uncovers a much larger conspiracy, and will use Mason as a pawn to get to the root of it all, within a 24-hour deadline.

First announced 2 years ago, the film’s very timely plot, and the talent involved, should help it draw some eyeballs Stateside, even though its trailer doesn’t exactly scream originality.

Charlotte Le Bon, Kelly Reilly and Jose Garcia round out the key cast.

A new clip from “The Take” premiered today, and is embedded below; underneath it you’ll find the film’s USA release trailer