Theo Rossi, best known for his roles in Emily the Criminal, Sons of Anarchy, and Marvel’s Luke Cage, is set to take on the lead role in Bruton, an upcoming biopic directed by Vincent Grashaw. The film chronicles the true story of Bryan Bruton, a man sentenced to a decade in a Florida prison following a fatal hit-and-run incident in Jacksonville in the early 2000s.
Grashaw, whose previous works include Bang Bang and What Josiah Saw, not only directs but also penned the screenplay for Bruton. The film delves into Bruton’s harrowing experiences within the correctional system, offering an unfiltered look into prison life. Following his release, Bruton relocated to California, where he created the YouTube series Bryan Bruton Crazy Prison Stories, a raw and revealing account of life behind bars. His videos detail the realities of prison, from the illicit trade of drugs, alcohol, and weapons to the extreme measures inmates take, such as cutting out window sections of their jail cells.
Production for Bruton recently concluded in Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi. The film is produced by Demetrius Stear, Ryan Francis, Colin Bates, Nicholas Carmona, and Kris and Mike Dorrance, with Rossi also serving as an executive producer. Production companies A Mind’s Eye, EverBright Pictures, DreamSyndicate, and Skipping Stone Entertainment are backing the project.
Rossi has been keeping busy with high-profile projects, recently starring in Netflix’s Carry-On alongside Jason Bateman and Taron Egerton, as well as HBO’s The Penguin in the role of Dr. Julian Rush. His performance in Emily the Criminal earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Up next, he will executive produce and star in the indie drama Come with Me, reuniting with his Sons of Anarchy co-star Ron Perlman.
