EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Cox (Daredevil: Born Again) and Haley Bennett (Cyrano) will topline Synthetic, a science fiction love story marking the feature directorial debut of Oliver Ridge that we first reported on yesterday.
Recently wrapping production in Kentucky, the indie is set in the near future, where a retired soldier’s isolated existence is shattered when a runaway female android seeks refuge on his farm. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing penned the script from an original story by Ridge.
As announced yesterday, Lana Parrilla will also star. Other new additions today include Barkhad Abdi, Lovie Simone, Spenser Granese, and Jonathan Silverman. Robert Ogden Barnum produced alongside Eric Binns, with Veronica Radaelli, Amanda Marshall and Jamie Wollrab exec producing. Space Pilot Media and House of Juno are the production companies, and UTA is repping the film for sales. Despite the title and subject matter, no AI actors were used in the making of the film.
in a statement to Deadline, Ridge said, “I spent countless nights dreaming about this film, yet even in those dreams I could never have imagined having a cast of this caliber for my first feature as a director. To watch this ensemble breathe life into characters that once only existed in my imagination, is not only humbling but also incredibly inspiring for any filmmaker.”
Said producer Barnum “I’ve had the privilege of working on nine films with Oliver over the years, and it’s an honor to support him in his directorial debut. His creative vision is remarkable, and seeing him bring it to life with our incredible ensemble of actors has been a truly proud moment for me.”
Best known for starring in Marvel’s Daredevil TV series and the recent Disney+ continuation Daredevil: Born Again, which is heading into its second season, Cox’s upcoming slate also includes Merv, an Amazon MGM rom-com where he stars opposite Zooey Deschanel. He is repped by UTA and Range.
Known for starring in films like Cyrano, Swallow, Till, Thank You for Your Service and The Magnificent Seven, Bennett is coming off of a role opposite Paul Walter Hauser in IFC’s The Luckiest Man in America. She is repped by UTA and David B. Feldman at Brecheen Feldman Breimer.
In the last decade, Ridge has produced or exec produced films like Corner Office with Jon Hamm, Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada, Indie Spirit Award winner Joyland, and Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, which was just acquired by Row K Entertainment after premiering in Venice. He is repped by Levin Law.
Kelly and Lanzing are both repped by 3 Arts and Weintraub Tobin Chediak. Abdi is repped by SMS Talent and Haven Entertainment; Simone by Buchwald, manager LaNise Oppong, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Granese by Untitled Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; and Silverman by Authentic and Brave Artists Management.
