David O. Russell Teams With Jenna Ortega and Robert De Niro for Pool Hustler Drama SHUTOUT
David O. Russell is back behind the camera, and this time, he’s aiming for the corner pocket. The Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle director is set to helm Shutout, a gritty, high-stakes pool hustler film starring Robert De Niro and Jenna Ortega.
The project is heating up just in time for the Cannes Film Market, where Black Bear will be introducing it to international buyers.
The movie will follow “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?”
The story promises a tense, character-driven ride into the cutthroat world of competitive pool. The movie is written by Alejandro Adams.
De Niro and Russell have proven chemistry, dating back to their work on Silver Linings Playbook, which earned De Niro an Oscar nomination, and now De Niro stepping into yet another complex mentor role.
Ortega, meanwhile, continues land big film projects, and this one marks a major leap for her, holding her own alongside a cinematic heavyweight. Also, a lot of actors who have worked with Russell tend to get big Oscar nominations, which is something Ortega is probably chasing.
RK Films, the company behind Maleficent and Snow White and the Huntsman, excited about the project and Jeff Kirschenbaum said in a statement:
“We’re delighted to be collaborating with the acclaimed director David O. Russell and the legendary Robert De Niro, and especially excited to see Jenna step into the spotlight alongside these two cinematic icons.
“It’s a rare and thrilling opportunity to support such a high-caliber team coming together to tell a compelling story — a lineup so precise, it feels like the perfect break.”
With its pedigree talent and old-school-meets-new-school narrative, Shutout is shaping up to be a big movie title to watch. It could be a film that that hustles its way from the Croisette straight into awards season conversation.
Source: Deadline