F. Gary Gray, Director of 'Lift,' Explores Franchise Prospects for Kevin Hart Film and Revolutionizes the Heist Genre.

Caution: Minor Spoilers Ahead for Netflix's 'Lift' - Stream with Care!

F. Gary Gray, known for directing heist movies like "The Italian Job" and "The Fate of the Furious," took on the challenge of bringing something new to the genre with his latest film, "Lift," now available on Netflix and starring Kevin Hart.

In "Lift," Hart's character, Cyrus Whitaker, leads an international crew specialized in stealing art. When his ex-girlfriend, Interpol agent Abby Gladwell (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw), discovers them stealing an NFT, she enlists their help in preventing a terrorist attack by stealing $500 million in gold from a plane.

Gray acknowledged the beloved nature of the heist genre, emphasizing that the motivations for the characters in "Lift" set it apart. In an interview with Variety, Gray discussed his approach to making "Lift" unique, including making the audience sympathize with the criminals, and hinted at the potential for a sequel or franchise.

What Attracted You to Dan Kunka's Screenplay?

I got a call from Bryan Smiley, a key figure at Kevin Hart's production company, Hartbeat. He expressed his admiration for my work, particularly "Set It Off," my first heist movie, and brought up "The Italian Job." Bryan pitched a heist movie starring Kevin and asked if I'd be interested. Initially, I hesitated, wondering what I could bring to the genre that I hadn't done before. However, Bryan emphasized Kevin's versatility and mentioned that he was keen on transitioning from comedic roles to a more grounded action character.

To get a better sense of working with Kevin, I reached out to some directors who had experience with him. They all praised Kevin as a fantastic and versatile person. Intrigued, I decided to meet with Kevin. In our conversation, he turned out to be just as everyone described – a genuinely nice guy with a clear vision for the project. After our meeting, I was on board, and a couple of weeks later, I found myself in Europe, gearing up for the movie.

F. Gary Gray on Crafting 'Lift': From Unique Heist Settings to Character Dynamics

In a recent interview, F. Gary Gray, the director of "Lift," discussed the challenges and creative decisions involved in making the heist film stand out from others in the genre. Gray revealed that the initial draw to the project came from Bryan Smiley of Hartbe