Taylor Kitsch (Lone Survivor), Alexandra Daddario (The White Lotus) and Oscar-winning screen legend Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter) are set to lead the cast of The Long Island Bank Robber, an upcoming true-crime thriller based on an extraordinary real-life story.
Kitsch will portray Stephen Trantel, a successful Wall Street commodities trader whose life takes a dramatic turn after he loses his job. Struggling to keep his family financially afloat, Stephen finds himself pushed into an increasingly desperate situation that ultimately leads him to become one of Long Island’s most prolific bank robbers.
Daddario will play Jeanne Trantel, Stephen’s wife, who begins to question her husband’s increasingly suspicious behaviour while searching for independence and a life beyond her traditional role at home. Walken is set to portray Stephen’s father, a retired police officer guided by a strong moral and ethical code.
Matthew Gentile, whose previous directorial work includes American Murderer, will direct the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Bianca Vera. The project is based on the non-fiction book ‘Til Heist Do Us Part by Jeanne Callahan and Michael Harvey.
Production is scheduled to begin this month in New Jersey.
The film is being produced by Vince Jolivette and Richie Hill of Filmopoly (The Threesome), Chris Bellant of Vision Entertainment (Neighborhood Watch) and Danielle Gasher of Vaneast Pictures (Hellhound).
Executive producers include Taylor Kitsch, Andres Budnik, Liam Scholey, Raymond Kimsey, Matt Allen, Dan Reardon, Kyle Fox, Alan B. Bursteen and Dawn Bursteen. Patricia DiCerto (Blue Jasmine) has also joined the project as casting director.
Gentile previously made his feature directorial debut with American Murderer, a true-crime thriller starring Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel and Jacki Weaver. Following its premiere at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, the film went on to receive awards at several American film festivals.
Speaking about the project, Gentile revealed that the story has been on his radar since his youth, when he was growing up in New York City with a fascination for true crime.
“The Long Island Bank Robber is a true story I learned about in my youth, growing up in New York City as a true-crime obsessive,” the filmmaker said.
He added that while the film promises an exciting heist story, it will also explore deeper themes surrounding grief, survival and marriage.
“With Taylor, Alexandra, and Christopher as our three leads — I could not have dreamed of a better cast to bring this film to life,” Gentile said.
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