Thandie Newton has been signed to star in the upcoming neo-western thriller God’s Country.
Newton is a regular on the HBO series Westworld and is also known for her starring roles in movies like Mission Impossible 2 (2000), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).
God’s Country comes from first-time director Julian Higgins and is based on James Lee Burke’s short story Winter Light. The script was adapted for the screen by Shaye Ogbonna.
Set in the bleak winter landscape of the Mountain West, the story follows a college professor (who will be played by Newton) living on her own at the edge of the national forest.
One day, she confronts two hunters trespassing on her land, and the encounter triggers a battle of wills with dangerous consequences.
Miranda Bailey who is the producer of the film had this to say about the project:
Julian and Shaye’s radical new take on James Lee Burke’s story is a nuanced response to the times in which we live. We are thrilled to be working on this powerful film that puts Thandie’s remarkable acting talent front and center.
The plot sounds engaging enough to attract movie fans. Principal photography for the movie begins this week in Montana.
