Jason Segel to Star in James Ponsoldt’s Twisted Recovery Thriller SPONSOR
Jason Segel is taking a sharp turn from comedy and heartfelt dramedy into full-blown psychological darkness. He’s set to lead Sponsor, a new thriller from director James Ponsoldt, his collaborator on Shrinking.
This time around, Segel isn’t playing a lovable everyman with emotional baggage. In Sponsor, he plays Peter, a man whose life derails after a DUI crash and who must either serve prison time or enter a court-mandated recovery program.
He chooses the latter, and that’s where the real nightmare begins. The program pairs him with Jerry, a mysterious 12-step mentor whose “support” becomes something far more sinister. That role is still being cast.
Segel and Ponsoldt co-wrote the script, and the duo released a joint statement that gives a taste of the tone they’re aiming for:
“We set out to explore what happens when support becomes control — when the person you turn to for salvation slowly becomes your worst nightmare.
“After collaborating on Shrinking, we were excited to channel that same emotional intimacy into a psychological thriller, where the stakes are darker, more dangerous, and deeply personal. We can’t wait to bring this unsettling story to life with such an incredible team.”
Backing the project is Platinum Dunes, the producing powerhouse behind A Quiet Place and The Purge. Producer Brad Fuller added:
“We loved the twists and turns as well as the inside look at the world of recovery. Moreover, Jason and James’ work together speaks volumes.”
Between Segel stepping into darker territory and Ponsoldt’s ability to capture raw, intimate performances, this could be the kind of story that fans will be interested in watching.
Source: Variety
