Backbone Pictures
Founded by filmmaker Tony Schiena, Backbone Pictures is a New York City–based independent film production and financing company.
Its portfolio includes Wilde Salomé, executive produced by Schiena and directed by Al Pacino, featuring Jessica Chastain, and The Weapon, a Lionsgate-released action feature directed and produced by Schiena, starring Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr., two-time Academy Award nominee Bruce Dern, and Sean Patrick Flanery.
Continuing his collaboration with Al Pacino, Schiena is also executive producing the upcoming Shakespeare adaptation Lear Rex, featuring Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Jessica Chastain, and Ariana DeBose, alongside Emmy Award winner Peter Dinklage.
Building on its portfolio, Backbone Pictures is currently developing The Weapon Reload.
Selected work
Film / Television
The Weapon
Directed, produced by and starring Tony Schiena. Co-financed and produced by Backbone Pictures, released by Lionsgate in US theaters.
DARC, key art detail
Darc
Co-written, executive produced by and starring Tony Schiena. Premiered on Netflix and ran on Netflix and Amazon Prime for two years.
Relaunches
Collector’s editions and what’s next
Retro Gold 63 / Expected 28 Dec 2026
DARC: The German Collector’s Edition
Four limited Year of the Dragon Mediabooks with new artwork, a newly drawn DARC comic and a new interview with Tony Schiena.
Retro Gold 63 / Expected Feb 2027
Wake of Death: Steel Premium Book
Four embossed limited editions on Blu-ray, with a new segment featuring Tony Schiena.
The Weapon
Reload
In the works
Backbone Pictures / In development
The Weapon Reload
The follow-up to The Weapon is in the works at Backbone Pictures.
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If Van Damme is the film’s heart, Tony is its ferocious engine.
Action-Flix
On Wake of Death
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The best Yakuza martial arts film of the last 20 years, in the style of The Punisher!
Retro Gold 63
On DARC / Distributor’s statement
Paper Empire
Tony Schiena plays an FBI agent tracking Robert Davi’s character, in an ensemble with Kelsey Grammer, Jon Lovitz, Wesley Snipes and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Locked Down
Tony
Schiena
Writer/Director
/
Actor/Producer
Tony is an actor and producer based in New York, and the founder of Backbone Pictures. He co-wrote, executive produced and starred in the action feature DARC, which premiered on Netflix and ran on Netflix and Amazon Prime for two years. Backbone Pictures co-financed and produced The Weapon, released by Lionsgate, in which Tony stars, produces and directs.
Filmography
Film / Television
/ 11 titles
Latest / Upcoming
The Weapon, sequel
Tony is in pre-production of the sequel to The Weapon.
Paper Empire, season three
The TV series Paper Empire will be entering its third season of filming.
The Art of Collaboration
Tony Schiena, Lawrence Grobel, and Al Pacino during the filming of Wilde Salomé in London.
From Shakespeare to Wilde. And Back Again.
Tony Schiena’s cinematic journey with Al Pacino began with The Merchant of Venice, his first role as an actor, and continued with Wilde Salomé, marking his debut as an executive producer.
Their latest collaboration, Lear Rex, returns to Shakespeare with Schiena as executive producer and Backbone Pictures as co-producer.
Press / Features
Selected
The American Reporter
Tony Schiena: Using Real-World Experience to Develop Film Personas
More coverage
Screening Room
Sound on
Paper Empire
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The Weapon
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DARC
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Locked Down
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Reel
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