Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Joel McKinnon Miller is moving from comedy to suspense. Starboard Entertainment has acquired Wardcliffe, a pandemic thriller directed by writer-director David Ferino, at this year's Cannes Market.
The indie drama unfolds almost entirely within a family home during the early days of lockdown. Inspired by real events, it is an intimate, claustrophobic thriller set during the pandemic.
McKinnon shares the screen with Pretty Little Liars' Shane Coffey. The pairing brings together a TV comedy favourite and a streaming drama veteran.
Starboard Entertainment's acquisition at Cannes signals confidence in Ferino's vision. The distributor has chosen this lockdown drama over others in the market.
For McKinnon, this marks a departure from his run on Brooklyn Nine-Nine into material with more edge. Wardcliffe offers him a chance to work in a grittier register.
Details on release strategy remain undisclosed, but with a Cannes Market acquisition and a recognizable cast, the film is positioned for attention when it releases.
