Challengers actor Josh O’Connor has been tapped to star in the planned art heist movie from Kelly Reichardt (Showing Up), The Mastermind.
The project comes on the heels of the box office hit sports movie Challengers, which saw O’Connor starring alongside Zendaya and Mike Faist.
Who’s behind The Mastermind?
Nothing much has been revealed about what the feature will entail, but Reichardt’s next project is expected to begin production sometime this year. Producers are Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani, and Vincent Savino of Filmscience. In addition to financing, MUBI will distribute the film in select territories.
According to Deadline, The Mastermind will revolve around “an audacious art heist amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War.”
The film is an addition to the award-winning actor’s upcoming starring roles, including in the romance war drama The History of Sound opposite Paul Mescal and Knives Out standalone sequel Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. He will be starring alongside the likes of Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, and Daryl McCormack.
O’Connor is known for his appearances in movies like God’s Own Country, Only You, Mothering Sunday, The Magnificent Eleven, Hide and Seek, The Riot Club, The Program, Florence Foster Jenkins, Hope Gap, Emma, Aisha, La chimera, and Bonus Track.
Apart from his performance in the television play Romeo and Juliet, the actor also appeared in episodes of Peaky Blinders, Ripper Street, The Durrells, Les Misérables, and The Crown.
Reichardt, known for her minimalist filmmaking approach, is the director behind River of Grass, Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, Meek’s Cutoff, Night Moves, Certain Women, and First Cow.
She is also a recipient of various awards including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the Venice International Film Festival, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, the London Film Festival, the Independent Spirit Awards, and the 39th Independent Spirit Awards.
