Morgan Freeman Joins Cast Of Legion M's Military Veterans Dramedy “My Dead Friend Zoe” Alongside Gloria Reuben And Utkarsh Ambudkar
The New Additions Join Previously Announced Cast Ed Harris, Natalie Morales and Sonequa Martin-Green
Los Angeles, CA - June 27, 2023 - Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby), Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominated Gloria Reuben (ER, Lincoln, Mr. Robot) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (World’s Best, Brittany Runs a Marathon) have joined the stellar ensemble cast of My Dead Friend Zoe, a film that delves deep into the lives of military veterans, highlighting their triumphs and challenges upon returning home. The project, written and directed by award-winning filmmaker and Bronze Star combat veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, pairs the new additions with previously announced Ed Harris, Natalie Morales and Sonequa Martin-Green.
Engaged in a mysterious but comfortable friendship with her wise-cracking (and dead) best friend from the Army (Morales), a female veteran (Martin-Green) is summoned to the remote lake house of her estranged Vietnam vet grandfather (Harris) and tasked with providing the one thing he refuses…help.
“It’s rare that one of us (veterans) gets the opportunity to tell our own story. Morgan is a fellow vet (Air Force) and I’m honored, humbled for him to join our amazing cast and help us tell this important story,” said Hausmann-Stokes. “Adding Gloria Reuben's depth and versatility and Utkarsh Ambudkar's vibrant energy and comedic chops perfectly aligns with my goal to make a more universal and accessible kind of film about the military and veterans; one with as much levity and humor as heart and gravity.”
"The caliber of this all-star cast is a reflection of the quality of the script and the story. We're thrilled with this gifted team coming together and we’re moved by their profound engagement to the story and purpose. This project, imbued with universal themes, strikes a chord in everyone.” said Paul Scanlan, Producer, Co-Founder, and CEO of Legion M. "We're also energized by the enthusiastic support from our Legion M community, and reinforced by the embrace of the underserved veteran community - both audiences longing for authentic, relatable narratives told in a compelling way."
Under the direction of Hausmann-Stokes in his feature film debut, the film aims to shed light on all sides of the modern day military veteran experience; the struggles, triumphs and resilience. Penned by Hausmann-Stokes and A.J. Bermudez, the script delves into the emotional complexities of the characters, exploring themes of family, camaraderie, redemption and the lasting effects of war.
Paul Scanlan and Terri Lubaroff of Legion M, alongside Richard Silverman of ReCre8 Entertainment, will produce. Also producing are Ray Maiello and Mike Field of Radiant Media Studios and Robert Paschall Jr. Executive Producers include Jeff Annison, David Baxter, and Brandi Plants from Legion M, as well as Jordan Dykstra, Chris Boshuizen, and Nancy and Joe Masterson. Co-Producers include Liz Manashil, Maury Sterling, Martin Masterson, Steve Rodosky, Rao Meka, and Chris Marvin, with casting by Jamie Castro.
Freeman is repped by CAA. Reuben is repped by TalentWorks and Echo Lake Entertainment. Ambudkar is repped by The Gersh Agency and 3 Arts Entertainment.
About Legion M:
Since 2016, Legion M has cultivated a collection of fans and creators banding together to shape the future of entertainment. Founded and led by two Emmy award-winners, Legion M is a film production company based in Los Angeles that partners with creators - from independent filmmakers to big Hollywood studios - to produce, market, and monetize movies, TV shows, documentaries, VR experiences and more.
Legion M’s roster includes acclaimed releases such as Mandy, Archenemy, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot and Colossal, with upcoming projects The Man in the White Van, You Can Call Me Bill, Nandor Fodor And The Talking Mongoose, and many more. For more information on recent projects and credits, visit www.legionm.com.