Esai Morales, best known for Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning and The Final Reckoning, is stepping into the lead role of Coyote, the latest feature from Emmy-winning filmmaker Per Prinz.

The film follows Hernán Barroca, a weary former smuggler drawn back into the perilous borderlands he thought he had left behind. His attempt to help Julia and her young daughter Maribel cross safely ignites the fury of a ruthless trafficking ring, while U.S. Border Patrol agent Bradley closes in. As old demons resurface, Hernán must summon his instincts and strength to survive—and to reclaim his sense of redemption.

Prinz, who co-wrote the script with Adam J Goldstein, said Morales was the natural choice for the role. “Hernán is the perfect role for Esai, an exceptionally powerful actor able to switch gears and play a conflicted, broken man on a journey to salvation. It’s a story of hope and resilience,” the filmmaker explained.

Producer Scott Smith of Fire Tiger Studios emphasised the deeper purpose behind the project. “This is a story we’ve been building for years—one that reaches for redemption and hope. Our goal is to tell a story that’s both urgent and deeply human,” he noted.

Alongside Smith, the project is produced by Hamid and Camille Torabpour of Winter State Entertainment, as well as Morales himself through his Richport Entertainment banner. The creative team hopes the film will highlight the often-overlooked complexities of immigration, offering audiences a perspective rooted in humanity and struggle.

Prinz, originally from Austria, has previously collaborated with major Hollywood names, including Kevin Hart and Christopher Lloyd. With Coyote, he shifts focus to a gripping, character-driven tale that blends high-stakes drama with a search for redemption.