EXCLUSIVE: Graham McTavish (House of the Dragon), Stan Steinbichler (Zero Chill), Susie Porter (Gold) and Honor Gillies (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) have wrapped production on Dirty Boy, an indie psychological thriller marking the first featur from writer-director Doug Rao.
Pic centers on Issac (Steinbichler), a reclusive schizophrenic who discovers that he’s being framed for a series of ritualistic murders and must prove his innocence by exposing a sinister cult and rescuing their next victim. McTavish and Porter portray the brutal cult leaders, with Gillies as troubled sect member, Hope.
Alice Lucy, Katharina Scheuba, Ruaridh Adlington, Ava Merson-O’Brien, Michael Kodi Farrow and Olivia Chenery co-star. Producers of the project are Giles Alderson (Three Day Millionaire, The Dare), Sarah-Anne Grill (Solitary), and Marek Lichtenberg (The Final 45).
“I am delighted with the level of cast I have for my debut feature,” said Rao, “and getting to work in a stunning a place as the ‘Ausseerland/Saltzkammergut’ in Austria, famously used as a backdrop for The Sound of Music and Spectre adds unbelievable value to the look of the film.”
Added pic’s producer, Alderson: “Rao is a very talented writer and director and we are excited to support his vision as this is an important story to tell.”
Best known for turns on Outlander and House of the Dragon, which returns for its second season this year, McTavish has also held major roles on The Witcher and Preacher, among other series. Notable recent film credits for the actor include Aquaman, The Finest Hours and Creed.
Previously, Steinbichler has been seen on Netflix’s British teen drama Zero Chill, BBC Two’s Vienna Blood and more.
In addition to films like the Zac Efron action thriller Gold, Netflix sci-fi horror pic Cargo, and award-winning thriller Hounds of Love, Porter has appeared on shows like The Artful Dodger and Wentworth.
Gillies is coming off her screen debut as District 12 resident Barb Azure in Lionsgate’s Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which grossed over $338 million worldwide.
Rao’s latest screenplay Gunn won the Gold Prize at the 2023 Page Awards and his short film Jubilee was selected for the London BFI Film Festival. His credits as an actor include the Liam Neeson-led action thriller Memory and Netflix’s Zero Chill.
McTavish is repped by Creative Artists Management and manager Cheri Barner; Steinbichler by The Artists Partnership; Porter by Sue Barnett and Associates; Gillies by Revolution Talent; Alderson by Zero Gravity Management; and Rao by Jessica Carney Associates.
