Affleck & Damon's label lines up Hiaasen comedy "Downriver"
Summary
Artists Equity Independent Pictures, launched this month to back emerging filmmakers, has cast Garrett Hedlund, Jake Lacy and Jessica Biel in director Sam Jones' scripted feature debut.
"Artists Equity Independent Pictures, the new independent film division of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Artists Equity, has set Garrett Hedlund, Jake Lacy and Jessica Biel to star in Downriver, the scripted feature directing debut of Sam Jones, MEAWW reported on October 13, citing Deadline. Jones co-wrote the script with best-selling novelist Carl Hiaasen. The story follows a divorced writer and his best friend, a surgeon, whose Montana getaway is upended when they meet a fishing guide.
Seth Caplan, Dori Rath, Hungry Bull Productions' Joseph Restaino and Groundswell Productions' Michael London are producing. Downriver is the label's second announced project, after A Woman in the Sun, the directing debut of Nyad screenwriter Julia Cox, starring Renee Zellweger, Sissy Spacek and Mia Threapleton, TheWrap reported when the label launched on October 7.
The label is backed by its own independent film fund and aims to release films from emerging filmmakers, with SVP Jennifer Westin overseeing its slate under Artists Equity president of film and television Amy Baer, according to TheWrap. Affleck and Damon said the label ""is a way for us to empower rising voices with real potential."" Budgets and release plans were not disclosed."
