Mohit Ramchandani Directed ‘Asphyxia’ Thriller For Capstone Studios

It’s perfect: Mohit Ramchandani (City of Dreams) co-wrote and will direct AsphyxiaCapstone Studios’ new survival fun.

Daniel Negret and Ramchandani wrote the script for the picture, which will be produced by Warner Bros-based Hunt Lowry (Last of the Mohicans, Time to Kill). Capstone is fully funding the casting which is currently underway and production will begin in Q1 2025. The project marks Ramchandani’s sophomore feature on the heels of City of Dreamsis a children’s entertainment thriller released by Roadside Attractions nationwide on August 30.

Asphyxia following Dr. Joanna Miller, a marine biologist specializing in whale migration and breeding, has her ship capsize in a storm during a routine voyage, killing all her crew. He was left stunned in the air pocket inside the dining hall, trying to identify the patrolling coast guards, when he met an unexpected survivor, the captain’s daughter. As he wanders over to the little girl, every breath he takes consumes what little breath he has left, blurring the lines between reality and illusion, and forcing him to face the loss of his past.

In a statement to Deadline about the origin of the project, Ramchandani shared, “I suffered a terrible loss two years ago and created the character of a person who avoids emotions, who is forced to go through the situation to the depths of his mind, where he chooses to be vulnerable. The wisdom above frees him, he gave me an elixir of forgiveness that was essential to my healing. It has been the most fulfilling journey of my life and I am truly honored to work with Hunt [Capstone CEO] A Christian [Mercuri].”

Mercuri teased that “Dan and Mo have created a survival thriller that not only keeps you on the edge of your seat, but also takes you on a deep emotional journey of what we need to give up in order to survive.”

Added Lowry, “After watching Mo’s filming for his first show “City of Dreams” and listening to his take. Asphyxiait was clear to me that he would bring something important to an overcrowded genre.”

Ramchandani’s directorial debut City of Dreams tells the story of a young Mexican boy who was smuggled across the border and sold to a sweatshop in downtown Los Angeles. Starring Alfredo Castro, Jason Patric and Golden Globe nominee Diego Calva, the film’s EPs include Tony Robbins, five-time Latin Grammy winner Luis Fonsi, singer-songwriter Linda Perry, Academy Award winner Michael Phillips (The sting, Taxi driver) and The Romans Oscar and Yalitza Aparicio.

CEO of Causeway Films, Negret served as EP on A24’s horror smash talk to me, which is currently in development. Previously, he was COO of Head Gear Films, where he produced The Protegé starring Michael Keaton and The Last Watchman starring Kate Bosworth.

The financier and production company behind the Gerard Butler action thriller KandaharJohn Woo’s Silent Night starring Joel Kinnaman, and the survivor thriller franchise To fallCapstone Studios’ upcoming projects include an action thriller Don’t move tied to Netflix; crime comedy The Riff Raff starring Lewis Pullman, Bill Murray, Jennifer Coolidge and others, coming soon to TIFF; Dave Bautista is a player The Trap House; and a thriller Black Box (Flight 298).

Ramchandani and Negret are represented by Gersh, who brokers deals with Capstone on behalf of the filmmakers.