Production has begun in Atlanta on Turpentine, a tense new thriller from director Craig Zobel that has just expanded its ensemble with several notable additions. The project, anchored by Melissa McCarthy, pairs a Black List script with high-profile producers — making it one to watch for both mainstream audiences and awards-season observers.
Plot and tone
Turpentine follows a family spiraling after a desperate son enlists friends to steal the household’s antique firearms to cover a debt. When the mother intervenes to fix the situation, the fallout tests loyalties and exposes simmering fractures within the household. The film is being described by its backers as balancing dark comedy and unsettling suspense.
New cast additions
Character names have not been disclosed, but the production has confirmed the following performers have joined the ensemble:
- Paul Walter Hauser — recently visible in a comedy opposite Mark Wahlberg and with a role in Netflix’s upcoming Scooby Doo project.
- Boyd Holbrook — fresh from festival and television work, including recent high-profile film roles.
- Michael Peña — an experienced character actor with several streaming and feature projects on his slate.
- Will Brill — whose recent dark comedy premiered at Sundance; he has multiple series and film credits forthcoming.
- Teyonah Parris — coming off a Netflix release and attached to a major family-branded feature.
- Veronika Slowikowska — a recent cast member on Saturday Night Live with television credits across several series.
These additions join previously announced cast members including McCarthy, Connor Storrie and Bill Camp, expanding an ensemble that mixes established stars with emerging talent.
Where the film came from and who’s behind it
The screenplay was written by Justin Varava and appeared on the 2024 Black List of best unproduced scripts, a credibility marker that helped secure backing. Production companies attached are Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman’s T-Street and Shivani Rawat’s ShivHans Pictures.
Producers credited on the project include Katie McNeill, Ben LeClair, Shivani Rawat, Julie Goldstein and Craig Zobel, with Connor Flanagan, Kenneth Yu and Melissa McCarthy listed as executive producers. Dan Watson and Nate Meyer serve as co-producers.
Creative approach and reactions
Those involved say the film’s strength lies in its tonal precision and character-driven writing. Zobel, known for his control of atmosphere and pitch between levity and unease, is working with a cast the producers describe as bringing unexpected depth and comic timing to the material. Studio partners framed the project as both entertaining and thematically layered — a blend intended to appeal to general audiences while retaining critical cachet.
Where the players stand now
The new cast members arrive with active and varied filmographies: Hauser has a genre project due later this year, Holbrook continues to move between film and prestige television, Peña remains a regular presence in both studio and streaming features, Brill recently played a notable role at Sundance, Parris has forthcoming family-studio work, and Slowikowska is building on her SNL exposure.
What’s next
Filming is underway in Atlanta and specific roles and a release date have not yet been announced. With a Black List pedigree, high-profile producers and a growing ensemble led by McCarthy, Turpentine is shaping up as a noteworthy entry on the year’s production calendar for audiences tracking intelligent genre fare.
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Hello, I’m Declan. I share my film reviews and discoveries with you to enrich your moviegoing experience.