EXCLUSIVE: Ben Foster (Hell or High Water), Manny Jacinto (Freakier Friday), and Fiona Shaw (Bad Sisters) will topline The Stalemate, an absurdist Western comedy from first-time feature filmmaker Nicholas Arioli, who’s directing from his own script.
Currently in production in Santa Fe, New Mexico, The Stalemate focuses on a robber (Jacinto) and sheriff (Foster) who, out of bullets and far from town, must negotiate their way out of an absurd, unending chase in the Old West.
“I spent many years writing this completely absurd movie,” Arioli said, “and I’m honored to work with such an incredible team who are as excited as I am to bring it to life. The Stalemate is part wacky buddy comedy, part poignant Western elegy – and just straight up a ton of fun. We can’t wait to share it!”
Producers of the film are Molly Conners and Amanda Bowers of Phiphen, Andrew Bosworth of Warden Shortbow, and Cari Tuna. Executive producers include Richard J. Berthy, Jane Sinisi, Linda L. Berthy, Wilson Rivas and Alex Spatt of Phiphen, Serkan Piantino, Emma Thorne, Annabel Teal, Foster, Christine Yi and Brian Nemes of Gold House, Jimmy Price and Javier Gonzalez.
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Said producer Conners of Phiphen, “From the moment we read Nick’s script, we knew The Stalemate was something special. It’s rare to find a story that’s this fearless, this funny, and this full of heart. We’re proud to be supporting Nick with such a strong voice—and thrilled to be making this ride of a movie in Santa Fe.”
Known for performances in Hell or High Water, Leave No Trace and 3:10 to Yuma, Foster will next be seen starring opposite Sydney Sweeney in David Michôd’s biopic on boxer Christy Martin. Recently, he wrapped shooting Motor City opposite Shailene Woodley.
Breaking out with his starring role on NBC’s The Good Place, Jacinto most recently starred in Disney+’s Star Wars series The Acolyte from Leslye Headland. Upcoming, he’ll be seen starring opposite Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in Freakier Friday, which hits theaters on August 8, and in the indie rom-com Love Language.
Recently seen starring in John Krasinski’s IF, as well as the hit series Bad Sisters (Apple) and True Detective: Night Country (HBO), Shaw will be seen in a pair of films releasing later this year: Hot Milk, directed by Rebecca Lenkiewizc, and Apple’s Echo Valley, opposite Julianne Moore and Sweeney.
Prior to The Stalemate, engineer-turned-filmmaker Arioli helmed Coin Operated, an animated short that won awards at Palm Springs ShortFest and elsewhere in 2017.
Foster is repped by Range Media Partners and Felker Toczek Suddleson; Jacinto by CAA, Alchemy Entertainment, Principals Talent Management, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead; Shaw by CAA and Independent Talent Group; and Arioli by Range.
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