"The Purge" actor Ethan Hawke and "Dear John" star Amanda Seyfried will star in a new church drama thriller "First Reformed." "Raging Bull" director Paul Schrader will be directing it.
According to Vulture, Hawke will play as an ex-military-chaplain in "First Reformed." He is tortured by the loss of a son he encouraged to enlist in the armed forces. Seyfried plays as a young, grieving widow parishioner. Her radical environmentalist husband committed suicide.
"First Reformed" overflows with institutional intrigue and shadowy corporate forces, as Variety reported. It revolves around the ex-military-chaplain. He grieves over the death of his son. He is further challenged when he befriends a young parishioner. He soon discovers hidden secrets of his church's complicity with unscrupulous corporations.
The Arclight Films and Killer Films are teaming on "First Reformed" for the Toronto International Film Festival. Schrader had been writing the script for almost 50 years. He also wrote "Taxi Driver" and directed "American Gigolo and Affliction." His latest film "Dog Eat Dog" is screening at the Toronto Film Festival and was also an Arclight Films project.
Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa of Killer Films are the producers of "First Reformed" along with Arclight Films' managing director Gary Hamilton. Brian Beckmann is the executive producer. Arclight Films will also be financing the film and has taken on worldwide rights.
Hawke is repped by CAA, MBMT Entertainment, and attorney George Sheanshang. He made appearances at the Toronto International FilmFestival for the opening night film "The Magnificient Seven." His other film credits include "Boyhood," "The Purge," and "Training Day."
Seyfried is represented by Innovative and attorney Mike Williams. She was seen in the HBO series "Big Love." She also played film roles in "Dear John" and "Mama Mia." She is expected to star in the upcoming films Andrew Niccol's sci-fi "Anon" and "The Last Word" with Anne Heche.
The financing of the new church drama "First Reformed" is arranged by Northside's David Gonzales. It is currently in preproduction.
Watch the video of Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried to co-star in indie film "First Reformed":