NEWS RELEASE

UNIVERSAL PICTURES BEGINS PRINCIPAL

PHOTOGRAPHY AND CONFIRMS CASTING ON MENA
Cross Creek Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Quadrant
Pictures Film Reunites Tom Cruise with Director Doug Liman

Universal City, CA, May 27, 2015Universal Pictures today announced

that production has begun in Georgia and confirmed casting for the
upcoming film Mena. Tom Cruise reunites with his Edge of Tomorrow
director, Doug Liman, in this international escapade based on the
outrageous (and real) exploits of Barry Seal, a hustler and pilot
unexpectedly recruited by the CIA to run one of the biggest covert
operations in U.S. history.
I love stories of improbable heroes working against the system, and Barry
Seal took the government, and our country, for an unbelievable ride, said
Liman. Interpreting his story has the makings for an entertaining film that
is equal parts satire, suspense and comedyand always surprising.
Also starring in Mena are Domhnall Gleeson (Unbroken), Sarah Wright
(TVs Marry Me), Jesse Plemons (upcoming Black Mass), Caleb Landry
Jones (X-Men: First Class), Jayma Mays (TVs Glee), Benito Martinez
(Netflixs House of Cards), E. Roger Mitchell (Selma), Lola Kirke (Gone Girl)
and Alejandro Edda (TVs The Bridge).

Universal Pictures Begins Production on Mena_News Release

Cross Creek Pictures will fully finance Mena. The film is produced by Cross
Creeks Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson, alongside Imagine
Entertainments Brian Grazer and Kim Roth, and Quadrant Pictures Doug
Davison.
Joining Limans Mena creative team are cinematographer Csar Charlone
(The Constant Gardener), production designer Dan Weil (The Bourne
Identity), editor Dylan Tichenor (Brokeback Mountain) and costume
designer Jenny Gering (TVs The Americans).
Mena will film through July in counties throughout Georgia including
Cherokee, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinett, Morgan, Pickens and others.
Mena will be released by Universal Pictures on Friday, January 6, 2017.
About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios
(www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal.
NBCUniversal is one of the worlds leading media and entertainment
companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment,
news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and
operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a
premier motion picture company, significant television production
operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme
parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
Contacts:
Kori Bernards
Senior Vice President, Global Communications
Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures Begins Production on Mena_News Release

818.777.7216
evan.langweiler@nbcuni.com
Evan Langweiler
Director, Global Communications
Universal Pictures
818.777.9709
evan.langweiler@nbcuni.com
****