Principle photography has begun in Calgary, Canada for Tubi’s dark western thriller, “The Thicket.” This will be a film adaptation of a novel by the same name from the legendary Joe R. Lansdale. The film will star Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) and Juliette Lewis (“Yellowjackets”).
“The Thicket” also boasts a cast including Metallica front man James Hetfield, Esmé Creed-Miles (“Hanna”), Levon Hawke (“The Crowded Room”), Leslie Grace (“Batgirl”), Gbenga Akinnagbe (“The Old Man”), Macon Blair (“I Care A Lot”), Ned Dennehy (“Peaky Blinders”), Andrew Schulz (“Infamous”), and Arliss Howard (“Mank”).
Set at the turn of the century, “The Thicket” tells the story of an innocent young man, Jack (Hawke). As he embarks on a quest to save his sister Lula (Creed-Miles) after she has been kidnapped by a gang led by the violent killer, Cut Throat Bill (Lewis). Jack’s only hope is to enlist the help of the crafty bounty hunter Reginald Jones (Dinklage), an alcoholic grave digger and ex-slave (Akinnagbe), and a street-wise sex worker (Grace). This rag-tag crew is able to track Cut Throat Bill into a deadly no man’s land known as The Big Thicket. Can they survive a place where blood and chaos reign to save Lula?
“I’m so very excited to bring Joe Lansdale’s riveting story to the screen,” Dinklage said in a press release. “A journey into the heart of darkness to find love and return it to its rightful place.” This has been a passion project Dinklage has been trying to get off the ground for a decade. In February of 2020, he was set to lead ANOTHER cast for “The Thicket.” That was until the fire nation known as Covid-19 attacked just a few weeks later.
Elliott Lester (“Nightingale”) is directing (and producing) from a script by playwright Christopher Kelly (“Preacher”). Ray Suen (Childish Gambino and Lorde) will tackle the score. Tubi Films, Dinklage and David Ginsberg of Estuary Films, will produce, along with Chad Oakes and Mike Frislev of Nomadic Pictures, Gianni Nunnari of Hollywood Gang, and Andre L III of MiLu Entertainment. Caddy Vanasirikul and Brian O’Shea are also producing for The Exchange, which holds international distribution rights. Tubi will handle distribution rights in the U.S. and Canada.
We will keep you updated on news about “The Thicket” as it becomes available.
