Production has begun this month on a new true-crime feature that reimagines one of Long Island’s most notorious bank-robbing cases, and the project has already secured international sales representation ahead of next week’s AFM. With a headline cast and a director coming off a prize-winning true-crime debut, the film is positioned to be a notable offering in the fall buyers’ market.
The Long Island Bank Robber will star Taylor Kitsch, Alexandra Daddario and screen legend Christopher Walken in a story adapted from real events. The drama follows a successful commodities trader whose life unravels after he loses his job, setting off a chain of choices that transform him into one of the region’s most prolific bank robbers.
Who’s playing who
Kitsch takes the lead as the trader-turned-robber, a man driven by mounting pressure to support his family after a career collapse. Daddario plays his wife, increasingly wary of her husband’s behavior and eager to build a life beyond the home. Walken appears as the patriarch — a retired police officer whose moral framework weighs heavily on the family dynamic.
The screenplay was co-written by director Matthew Gentile and Bianca Vera, and is adapted from the non-fiction book ’Til Heist Do Us Part by Jeanne Callahan and Michael Harvey. Filming is underway in New Jersey.
Behind the camera and the marketplace
Matthew Gentile, whose previous film American Murderer earned festival recognition after its international launch, directs the new picture. Sales company Vaneast Pictures has acquired worldwide rights and will present the project to buyers ahead of the American Film Market.
- Director: Matthew Gentile (co-writer)
- Screenplay: Matthew Gentile & Bianca Vera
- Source: ’Til Heist Do Us Part — Jeanne Callahan & Michael Harvey
- Production start: This month, shooting in New Jersey
- Sales: Vaneast Pictures — launching at AFM
- Producers: Vince Jolivette and Richie Hill (Filmopoly), Chris Bellant (Vision Entertainment), Danielle Gasher (Vaneast Pictures)
- Casting director: Patricia DiCerto
- Executive producers: Taylor Kitsch, Andres Budnik, Liam Scholey and others
Producers emphasize the project’s mix of commercial appeal and character-driven drama, describing it as both a fast-paced heist film and a deeper exploration of grief, marriage and survival. Gentile, who has long been drawn to true-crime stories, framed the film as an attempt to marry procedural momentum with human complexity.
Industry reaction to the package centers on the cast’s drawing power — the presence of a veteran like Walken alongside two contemporary leads increases the film’s visibility for distributors — and on Gentile’s prior festival success, which could help the title find space on festival and streaming calendars after the AFM sales push.
What to watch for next
Expect buyers’ screenings and market screenings at AFM once Vaneast begins shopping the film. Given the subject matter and pedigree, the movie could appeal to specialty distributors and streaming platforms that target true-crime audiences.
Representations on the project: Kitsch is represented by Untitled Entertainment and CAA; Daddario by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Jackoway Austen; Walken by CAA. Gentile and co-writer Bianca Vera are represented by Vision Entertainment and Goodman, Genow.
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Hello, I’m Declan. I share my film reviews and discoveries with you to enrich your moviegoing experience.