EXCLUSIVE: Emily the Criminal Spirit Award Supporting Performance nominee Theo Rossi is set to make his directorial debut with the upcoming action/heist film Shell Game. Based on an original script from Rossi, Tommy DeNucci and James Crewe, the pic will tell the story of a notorious crew of thieves who reunite after years apart. They must navigate old grudges, new enemies and a high-stakes heist that could set them up for life — or destroy them for good.Rossi tells Deadline, “some of my favorite films ever made have been about how relationships navigate and are tested in the underworld of society. This film gives us the opportunity to explore that even more through these deeply flawed characters trying to find their way in a pressure-filled world they inhabit.”
Chris Dent, Nicholas Carmona and Crewe are producing alongside Rossi and DeNucci. Executive producers include Lee Thomas of Soho Film and Media, Zeus Motion Pictures’ Tasos Diamantis and Andreas Vougioukas, as well as Bradley Henske, Sean Doherty, Jon Bono and Greg Rhoades.Rossi recently appeared in the Netflix movie Carry-On opposite Jason Bateman and Taron Edgerton and also in HBO’s acclaimed The Penguin as Dr. Julian Rush. He starred opposite Aubrey Plaza in Emily the Criminal for which he was nominated for a Spirit Award. He is also known for roles in Marvel’s Luke Cage, Sons of Anarchy and Army of the Dead. Upcoming, Rossi executive produces and stars in the indie drama Come with Me, reuniting with his Sons of Anarchy co-star Ron Perlman, which Deadline broke exclusively. Rossi is repped by Paradigm, Entertainment 360 and Schreck Rose Dapello.
Casting for Shell Game is being handled by Deanna Brigidi and Andrea Bunker of 5th House Casting. The film is in pre-production, with principal photography planned for this fall in Texas and New Mexico.
The post Theo Rossi Making Feature Directorial Debut With Action Heist Pic ‘Shell Game’ appeared first on Deadline.
