Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Courtney B. Vance (The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story) has joined Academy Award winner Julia Roberts, Academy Award nominee Lucas Hedges, and Kathryn Newton in the film Ben is Back, which was written and will be directed by Academy Award nominee Peter Hedges. Color Force and Black Bear Pictures are producing alongside Hedges, with 30WEST and Black Bear fully financing. Principal photography began today in New York.
Ben is Back is a powerful drama that follows the charming, yet troubled, Ben Burns (Hedges) who returns home to his unsuspecting family one fateful Christmas Eve. Ben’s wary mother, Holly Burns (Roberts) welcomes her beloved son’s return, but soon learns that he is still very much in harm’s way. During the 24-hours that may change their lives forever, Holly must do everything in her power to avoid the family’s downfall. As witty and relatable, as it is heartfelt and harrowing, this film shows us how far we will go to protect the ones we love. Vance will play Roberts’ husband and stepfather to Hedges. His philosophy on how to handle her son’s return puts him at direct odds with his wife.
Vance received numerous awards for his stunning portrayal of Johnnie Cochran in the FX series The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, including an Emmy and Critics Choice Award, and SAG and Golden Globe Award nominations. He recently co-starred in DreamWorks Pictures’ ensemble comedy Office Christmas Party alongside Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Munn, Kate McKinnon, T.J. Miller, and Jason Bateman. He appeared opposite Tom Cruise in Universal Pictures’ The Mummy, and went head-to-head with Oprah Winfrey in HBO Film’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Next spring, Vance will be part of an all-star cast in Wes Anderson’s Fox Searchlight animated film, Isle of Dogs. Vance and director Anthony Hemingway will be back at FX, teaming with writer Dwayne Johnson-Cochran for drama Heist 88.
