Michelle Veintimilla, Neville Archambault, and Will Madden join the cast for MEAN SPIRITED, the solo directorial debut from Jeff Ryan. The film, which is co-written by Ryan and Joe Adams, is a found-footage horror-comedy set to begin shooting this fall.
Madden will star as Andy, an up-and-coming Vlogger whose attempts to reconnect with his estranged friend, Bryce (played by Ryan) fall apart while a demonic presence begins tormenting the vacationing group.
Michelle Veintimilla is best known for her recurring role as Bridgit Pike / Firefly on the hit series Gotham and has most recently been seen on ABC’s Big Sky and The Baker and the Beauty.
Neville Archambault is celebrated for his roles in genre films including Victor Zarcoff’s 13 CAMERAS and its sequel, 14 CAMERAS. He starred in THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND, from Cobra Kai and American Vandal directing duo Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus, and shared the screen with Madden previously in Jim Cummings’ THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW.
Will Madden starred in BEAST BEAST, the acclaimed feature directorial debut from his brother, Danny Madden, which boasts Alec Baldwin as executive producer and Jim Cummings as producer.
In addition to Veintimilla, Archambault, Madden, and Ryan, MEAN SPIRITED will star Daniel Rashid (BEAST BEAST), Jake Cannavale (Nurse Jackie), Maria DeCotis (EUPHONIA), and Charlie Pollock (The Good Wife).
Jeff Ryan’s previous directing credits include the 2018 mockumentary YOUTHMIN and the 2019 horror feature MASS HYSTERIA, both co-directed alongside Arielle Cimino. In addition to being a SAG-AFTRA actor, with credits that include his own features, Ryan is the founder and owner of New York-based independent production company First-Names Films.
“After seeing BEAST BEAST, we knew we needed Will Madden to play Andrew in this film. I’m humbled for the opportunity to work with these amazing actors,” says Ryan on the casting, adding, “growing up reading Weird NJ, I would often break into abandoned hotels and insane asylums. I wanted to tell a personal story about friendship, jealousy, and an inherent need to be seen amidst the former Honeymoon Capital of the World: The Poconos.”
MEAN SPIRITED is set to begin filming this fall in the Pocono Mountains and is a First-Names Films production.
