This month not only sees the Cannes Film Festival, but the anticipated French event is also the home for one of the biggest European film markets. We end up seeing a wave of local and international projects seeking financing and distribution partners at the Cannes Film Market. One of those new projects is David O. Russell‘s “Shutout,” a pool hustler pic that has landed two high-profile actors.
We can share that “Shutout,” taking a page from “The Hustler” and “The Color of Money,” will star Jenna Ortega (“Hurry Up Tomorrow”) and veteran Oscar-winner Robert De Niro (“Killers of The Flower Moon”) with a screenplay penned by Alejandro Adams.
An official logline via Black Bear:
Shutout follows Jake Kejeune (De Niro), one of the last masters of a vanishing craft – the pool hustler. Having lived and lost by the roll of a ball in smoky backroom halls, Jake encounters Mia (Ortega), a young prodigy whose raw, electrifying talent reignites a fire he thought long extinguished. Sensing a rare opportunity to shape a legend, Jake takes Mia under his wing, honing her instincts and sharpening her natural gift. Together, they plunge into the ruthless world of high-stakes pool, where the line between unimaginable fortune and devastating failure is razor-thin. As Mia’s star ascends and her ambition grows, Jake must confront the ultimate question: can he steer her to greatness, or will her hunger for victory eclipse everything he has taught her?
De Niro had previously worked with the filmmaker on “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Joy,” “American Hustle,” and “Amsterdam,” making this their fifth project together.
“Shutout” will be produced by Russell alongside RK Films’ Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Mark Bomback. Also, Black Bear will introduce the project to international buyers at Cannes, and CAA Media Finance is handling U.S. rights for the upcoming film.
Most will be well aware of Russell going out of his way to fill multiple supporting roles with high-profile actors, and we shouldn’t be shocked if more regulars from his previous efforts end up appearing in “Shutout” opposite Ortega and De Niro.
