EXCLUSIVE: Will Yun Lee (The Good Doctor), Abby Miller (Home Before Dark), Jon Huertas (This Is Us) and Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project) are set to headline the indie feature California Scenario, co-written by Dara Resnik (Daredevil, Home Before Dark) and James Takata (This Is Us, The Company You Keep).
California Scenario is a coming-of-middle-age love story exploring the intergenerational echoes of trauma, survival, and healing. Directed by Takata, this film brings together diverse family histories, weaving them into a poignant narrative set against the backdrop of celebrated artist Isamu Noguchi’s sculptural garden, California Scenario. It is the first and only film to be granted permission to shoot at the storied location.
Lee plays Jacob Hara, a single father who races to help his daughter Lexi (Minnie Mills) when a long-held family secret threatens to upend their world. Meanwhile, Laura Acker (Miller), a single mother recovering from her abusive marriage, fights to protect her daughter Phoebe (Prince) amid a challenging co-parenting dynamic. Their journeys of truth and healing intersect in unexpected ways, highlighting the power of confronting the past to build a stronger future.
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“Though it deals with difficult themes, at its core this is a hopeful love story,” Takata shared.
California Scenario also features Jes Macallan (Legends of Tomorrow) as Kelly, James Saito (Always Be My Maybe) as Bill, Jean Yoon (Kim’s Convenience) as Nancy, Emmylou Diaz (Jane the Virgin) as Anna, and Ellen Greene (Little Shop of Horrors) as Renee. With roles featuring Jack Stuart (Shrinking) as Jack, Zhaleh (Cobra Kai) as Stephanie, Dove Meir (NCIS: LA) as Michael, and award-winning author Reema Zaman rounding out the cast.
Produced by Jhennifer Webberley & Jen Prince of Metamorfic Productions, Dara Resnik, Jon Huertas, Jennie Yamaki, Chloe Durkin, and Carter Smith.
“James and I come from disparate cultures — Jewish and Japanese-American. Both our people were put in concentration camps on different continents. We’re both descendants of humans who experienced displacement. We haven’t seen a movie that speaks to those parallels,” Resnik said in a statement.
The film is set for release later this year, with festival premiere announcements coming soon. Yasu Tanida of This Is Us will serve as cinematographer.
Lee is repped by Wonder Street and Independent Artists Group. Huertas is repped by CAA and Marsh Entertainment.
The post Will Yun Lee, Abby Miller, Jon Huertas & Brooklynn Prince To Headline Indie Feature ‘California Scenario’ From Dara Resnik & James Takata appeared first on Deadline.
