Blumhouse and Damon Lindelof's political action thriller The Hunt has cast Hilary Swank. Fresh off the success of Netflix’s sci-fi story I Am Mother, the two-time Oscar winner is the recent addition to a cast chock full of impressive raw talent. Penned by Lost creator Lindelof and Nick Cuse, The Hunt has so far carefully concealed major plot lines and character details.
Directed by Craig Zobel, The Hunt touches on the escalating tensions between the political left wing and right wing in modern-day America. Set in the same humans-hunting-humans vein as Battle Royale, The Belko Experiment, and The Purge, The Hunt will use status, political beliefs, and affiliations as the trajectory for the deadly pursuits. The Hunt serves as a reunion for Lindelof, Cuse, and Zobel, who previously collaborated on HBO's The Leftovers. Although specific details about the characters haven’t been revealed, the players of The Hunt include Emma Roberts, Betty Gilpin, Justin Hartley, Glenn Howerton, Amy Madigan, and Ike Barinholtz. Now, the highly anticipated film has added one of Hollywood’s finest to the slate.
According to Deadline, Swank has been tapped for a starring role in The Hunt, although, her character’s name, political affiliation, and motivations are currently under wraps. Veteran to the big and small screen, Swank has been revered for her work in Amelia, Freedom Writers, and Insomnia. The actress earned the elite status with her work in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby - which garnered her Oscar statues. Helmed by producing team Lindelof, Cuse, Erik Balers, Jay Polidoro, and Mika Pryce, production of The Hunt is racing ahead of the clock and is set for a September release.
Shuttling back and forth between television and film, Swank is currently executive producing and starring in Netflix’s upcoming series Away. Created by Jessica Goldberg, Away has been revealed as a survival tale during the first human mission to Mars. Following American astronaut Emma Green (Swank), Away dives into the theme of humanity amid a treacherous mission. As of this writing, an official release date for Away has yet to be revealed. Swank’s fellow hunters and prey are currently in the midst of numerous productions. Gilpin’s GLOW season 3 is on the horizon, while, Roberts was tapped to star in American Horror Story: 1984. Meanwhile, Barinholtz has been cast opposite Evangeline Lilly in Happy Life.
Toting a compelling premise, seasoned creative team, and pedigree talent, The Hunt is one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year. Released at a time when political strife is a hot topic of conversation, Lindelof and team will no doubt tackle public affairs in a creative way. Given Swank’s ability to inhabit her roles, and the surroundings of her character, she’s the perfect choice to contribute to the terrorizing and thriller atmosphere of The Hunt.
Source: Deadline