Amanda Seyfield is also starring in Nelson’s prision break thriller, currently in production. More details below:
Oscar nominee Amanda Seyfried (Mank) and Scoot McNairy (A Complete Unknown) are set to topline The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd, a new prison break thriller written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson.
Currently in production in Georgia, the film follows a teacher in an abusive marriage who takes a job at a maximum security prison, where she falls for a charismatic inmate. The disastrous consequences call into question not only the nature of punishment and retribution, but the very limits of our humanity.
Julie Buck, Nelson, Ryan Bartecki, Miles David Romney, and Billy Hines are producing, with Christopher Hines and Gary Levinsohn exec producing. Co Created Media, V42, and Nelson’s Red Barn Films are the production companies. WME, V42, and D Squared Films are co-repping domestic rights.
“I feel deeply fortunate to be able to tell this story with such an extraordinary lead cast,” Nelson said. “I have always admired Amanda, and getting to work with her on Mona Fastvold’s film ANN LEE last summer confirmed for me what an extraordinary person she is aside from her talent. As for Scoot, it’s great to be able to offer him such a demanding part. No one has seen him do what he’s about to accomplish in this role. It will be magnificent to be on set with these two performers.”
Noting that The Life and Death marks his third film set in his home state of Oklahoma, “a place I love,” Nelson added, “It’s a difficult story, but also one meant to grab its audience and not let go. We’ve assembled a cast and crew of people dedicated to making something not only compelling but unforgettable.”
Oscar-nominated for her work in David Fincher’s Mank, Seyfried can currently be seen leading Peacock’s acclaimed Philadelphia cop series Long Bright River, based on the book by Liz Moore. Upcoming, she has Lionsgate thriller The Housemaid opposite Sydney Sweeney, Sony comedy My Ex-Friend’s Wedding, musical Ann Lee from the team behind The Brutalist, and an animated sequel series to Ted for Peacock. She is repped by Innovative Artists and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz.
Recently seen portraying Woody Guthrie in James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, McNairy’s last year also included the films Nightbitch and Speak No Evil. Recently seen in Kate Beecroft’s Sundance 2025 drama East of Wall, his slate also includes survival thriller Die by Night and Netflix’s Man on Fire TV series. He is repped by UTA and The Group Management.
As a director, Nelson is coming off of the films Leaves of Grass and Anesthesia, as well as Amazon’s Z: The Beginning of Everything starring Christina Ricci. Most recently seen starring in Captain America: Brave New World, his slate as an actor includes Ann Lee, drama On the End, and Sterlin Harjo’s FX series The Lowdown opposite Ethan Hawke. He is repped by UTA, Gateway Management & Production, and Brecheen Feldman Breimer.
Launched last year by brothers Billy and Christopher Hines, Co Created Media recently premiered the Rodney Ascher documentary Ghost Boy at SXSW, where it won an Audience Award. Upcoming, the indie production company and financier has films including Dead Man’s Wire from Gus Van Sant and Night Always Comes for Netflix.
Led by former execs from Sony, Paramount, MGM, and CAA, V42 previously collaborated with Nelson on the Oscar-nominated animated short Ninety-Five Senses.