Manny Jacinto, known for his role in The Good Place, is set to headline the upcoming Western comedy, The Stalemate. He will star alongside Ben Foster (Hell or High Water) and Fiona Shaw (Bad Sisters) in the film, which is currently in production in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The movie centers on Jacinto’s character, a robber, and Foster’s portrayal of a sheriff. The unusual premise sees the two men in a relentless chase across the Old West after running out of bullets and finding themselves far from any sign of civilization. They are then forced to find a way to negotiate their predicament.
Nicholas Arioli, making his debut as a feature film director, penned the script. He expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I spent many years writing this completely absurd movie, 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 Molly Conners and Amanda Bowers of Phiphen are backing the film, along with Andrew Bosworth of Warden Shortbow and Cari Tuna. Conners shared her excitement about the project, saying, “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.”
Jacinto has been gaining recognition for his work, most recently appearing in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte. Looking ahead, he is also set to star in Freakier Friday alongside Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, scheduled for release on August 8th, and the independent romantic comedy Love Language.
Foster, acclaimed for his roles in films like Hell or High Water and 3:10 to Yuma, will next be seen in David Michôd’s biopic about boxer Christy Martin, opposite Sydney Sweeney. He also recently finished filming Motor City with Shailene Woodley.
Read more: Manny Jacinto to Receive Honorary Canadian Screen Award for Global Success
Shaw, who recently appeared in John Krasinski’s IF and the popular series Bad Sisters and True Detective: Night Country, has two more films slated for release this year: Hot Milk, directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, and Apple’s Echo Valley, where she stars alongside Julianne Moore and Sweeney.
Director Arioli previously gained recognition for his animated short film Coin Operated, which won awards at the Palm Springs ShortFest and other festivals in 2017. A release date for The Stalemate has not yet been announced.
