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Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, even hearing the name "Al Pacino" triggers the response of "Oh, this is gonna be good." One of the few performers to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting, Pacino's next project brings him into a territory he doesn't often explore: the world of indie dramas. 

Pacino is set to star in the upcoming "Billy Knight," the feature directorial debut of writer/director Alec Griffen Roth. Roth is the son of legendary screenwriter and producer Eric Roth, so it'll be fascinating to see whether or not the apple falls far from the tree on this one. 

Here's what we know about "Billy Knight" so far.

What Is Billy Knight About?

Per The Hollywood Reporter, "Billy Knight" is about a pair of grad school students named Alex and Emily, who are working their way toward becoming filmmakers. Alex is...

Al Pacino has been set to star in Billy Knight, an indie drama that will mark the feature film debut of writer-director Alec Griffen Roth. Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton and Diana Silvers will also topline the pic, which begins shooting this week in Los Angeles.

Prominent Productions’ Autumn Bailey-Ford and Cameron Burnett are producing with Sevier Crespo and Amanda Kiely, with Sarah Sarandos, Josh Clayton, Kirk Martin and Our World Films’ Peter Bortel executive producing.

The plot follows grad school students Alex (Heaton) and Emily (Silvers) as they traverse their aspiring careers as filmmakers. Alex is also grappling with the grief of losing his father, a failed screenwriter. The only thing his dad left him was a box of unfinished scripts and a handkerchief with the name “Billy Knight” embroidered on it. Alex embarks on a magical Hollywood adventure to track down the Billy Knight all...

Al Pacino will star in the upcoming drama “Billy Knight” opposite Charlie Heaton of “Stranger Things” fame.

Diana Silvers, best known for her work in “Ma” and “Space Force,” rounds out the cast of writer and director Alec Griffen Roth’s debut feature film.

“Billy Knight” follows grad school students Alex (Heaton) and Emily (Silvers) who dream of becoming filmmakers. In addition to wanting to make it in the movie business, Alex is also grappling with the death of his father, a failed screenwriter. The only thing Alex’s father left him was a box of unfinished scripts and a handkerchief with the name “Billy Knight” embroidered on it. Those clues send Alex on a quest to find the mysterious and reclusive Billy Knight.

“Billy Knight is a love letter to cinema, a fantasy steeped in the history of this great art-form. It’s also the tale of two struggling artists,...

CAA Media Finance represents sales.

Al Pacino has joined Charlie Heaton and Diana Silvers on Alec Griffen Roth’s love letter to cinema Billy Knight as the producers prepare for a production start in Los Angeles this week.

Autumn Bailey-Ford and Cameron Burnett of Prominent Productions are producing alongside Sevier Crespo and Amanda Kiely. Sarah Sarandos serves as executive producer with Josh Clayton, Kirk Martin, and Peter Bortel of Our World Films.

Heaton and Silvers portray grad school students who grapple with their aspiring careers as filmmakers.

Alex must deal with the grief of losing his father, a failed screenwriter...

Al Pacino, “Stranger Things” star Charlie Heaton and “Booksmart” actress Diana Silvers will all lead the cast of upcoming indie drama “Billy Knight,” which kicks off production this week in Los Angeles.

Alec Griffin Roth wrote the film and is making his directorial debut on the project, which is described as a love letter to Hollywood and cinema.

“Billy Knight” follows grad school students, Alex (Heaton) and Emily (Silvers), as they traverse their aspiring careers as filmmakers. Alex is simultaneously grappling with the grief of losing his father, a failed screenwriter. The only thing Alex’s father left him was a box of unfinished scripts and a handkerchief with the name “Billy Knight” embroidered on it. Consumed with the desire to discover his identity, Alex embarks on a magical Hollywood adventure to track down this mysterious and reclusive Billy Knight (Pacino) all while navigating the line between fiction and reality.

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Writer-director Alec Griffen Roth has found his Billy Knight.

Al Pacino is set to topline Roth’s debut feature, Billy Knight, and star opposite Charlie Heaton and Diana Silvers in the project he describes as “a love letter to cinema.”

The plot follows grad school students, Alex (Heaton) and Emily (Silvers), as they navigate their careers as aspiring filmmakers. Alex is simultaneously grappling with the grief of losing his father, a failed screenwriter, who left him a box of unfinished scripts and a handkerchief with the name “Billy Knight” embroidered on it. Consumed with the desire to discover his identity, Alex embarks on a Hollywood adventure to track down this mysterious and reclusive Billy Knight, played by Pacino.

Billy Knight is being produced by Autumn Bailey-Ford and Cameron Burnett of Prominent Prods., Sevier Crespo and Amanda Kiely. Executive producers are Sarah Sarandos, Josh Clayton,...

Roadside Attractions has scooped up the U.S. rights to “Call Jane,” the period piece abortion drama that stars Elizabeth Banks and made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

Phyllis Nagy (“Carol”) directed the film that also stars Sigourney Weaver. Roadside is planning a theatrical release for the film this fall.

“Call Jane” is set in Chicago in 1968 and follows a suburban housewife named Joy who has a life-threatening heart condition as a result of her pregnancy and finds an all-male medical establishment is unwilling to assist in her abortion. Her journey for a solution leads her to two women who are committed to women’s health and have the dream of giving all women access to abortions, and together they form an underground abortion service for women that puts every aspect of her own life on the line.

The film is based on a true story,...

Roadside Attractions is taking U.S. distribution rights to Oscar-Nominee Phyllis Nagy’s theatrical feature directorial debut, Call Jane. A theatrical release is planned for the film this year.

Chicago, 1968. As the city and the nation are poised on the brink of political upheaval, suburban housewife Joy (Elizabeth Banks) leads an ordinary life with her husband and daughter. When Joy’s pregnancy leads to a life-threatening heart condition, she must navigate an all-male medical establishment unwilling to terminate her pregnancy in order to save her life. Her journey for a solution leads her to Virginia (Sigourney Weaver), an independent visionary fiercely committed to women’s health, and Gwen (Wunmi Mosaku), an activist who dreams of a day when all women will have access to abortion, regardless of their ability to pay. Joy is so inspired by their work, she decides to join forces with them, putting every aspect of her life on the line.

Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “Call Jane,” a historical drama about a group of women working to provide access to safe abortions.

The film debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, premiering at a time when the Supreme Court is debating Roe v. Wade and with it the future of reproductive rights. Roadside plans a Fall 2022 theatrical release for the film, which means it could hit cinemas after Roe has been overturned and several states have moved to make abortion illegal. “Call Jane” is the feature directorial debut of Phyllis Nagy, who was nominated for an Oscar for her script for “Carol.”

Set in 1968, the film follows a suburban housewife Joy (Elizabeth Banks). When her pregnancy leads to a life-threatening heart condition, Joy must navigate an all-male medical establishment unwilling to terminate her pregnancy in order to save her life. Her journey for a solution...

Exclusive: Iranian director Abdolreza Kahani (Twenty), whose films have played at Karlovy Vary, Thessaloniki and Sao Paolo film festivals, is making his English-language debut with psychological thriller Isthmus.

Writer-director Kahani emigrated to France in 2015 after three of his films were banned in Iran and he was prevented from submitting them to international festivals.

Shoot is underway in Canada on Isthmus, about a woman who loves her husband but struggles with the fear of being controlled by him. The Canadian cast includes Stephanie Jaskot, Reece Presley, Catherine Howard and Adam Daniel Menzei.

Saeed Fardsaberi of Toronto-based Blue Footlights and Amanda Kiely of Tall Brit Productions will produce.

Kahani’s 2009 feature Twenty won the Special Jury Prize and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Karlovy Vary and had wide festival play. Other titles to get festival play include Empty Hands and Adam.

“I am delighted to be shooting this film in...

Companies attending for first time include A24, Cornerstone Films, Film Constellation.

A Brexit-inspired comedy written by Sally Potter and new work from The Florida Project producer Kevin Chinoy are among the line-up at Ontario Creates’ 14th International Financing Forum (iff), set to take place from Sept 8-9 in association with and during the Toronto International Film Festival.

The competitive feature film co-financing and co-production event will bring together producers, sales agents financiers, distributors and agents from Canada and the international sector for two days of networking, one-on-one producer and executive meetings, a state-of-the-industry panel discussion, a luncheon, and a producers’ opening night networking reception.

Oscar-nominated English filmmaker Michael Radford has signed on to direct Sweethearts, an indie biopic set 1930s Hollywood about the love affair between movie stars and frequent on-screen co-stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Eve Pomerance is producing the film under her Major Motion Pictures banner, alongside Bill Black of Jaba Films, Attit Shah’s Creation Entertainment, and Amanda Kiely.

MacDonald and Eddy were first paired in the 1935 W. S. Van Dyke-directed film Naughty Marietta, which was under MGM where MacDonald was signed to. The went on to star in eight films together. During the time, there was a struggle for MacDonald’s heart and soul between Eddy and MGM studio boss Louis B. Mayer who controlled her life and career.

Production is scheduled to begin later this year in Spain.

Radford first garnered mass attention with his 1984 film, Nineteen Eighty-Four, based George Orwell’s novel of the same title and...