Morgan Freeman has signed on to star in My Dead Friend Zoe, a dramedy in development from writer-director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes.
Gloria Reuben (Mr. Robot) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (Brittany Runs a Marathon) are also on board for the film, which will delve into the lives of military veterans, to highlight both their triumphs and challenges upon returning home.
Freeman joins the previously announced Ed Harris and Natalie Morales in the film, which is based on Merit x Zoe, a short that Hausmann-Stokes co-wrote and directed last year, which draws on his personal experience during and after the military, as a Bronze Star combat veteran.
The film revolves around a female veteran engaged in a mysterious but comfortable friendship with her wise-cracking (but dead) best friend from the Army. When the vet is summoned to the remote lake house of her estranged Vietnam vet grandfather, she is tasked with providing the one thing he refuses – help.
Hausmann-Stokes said in a statement: “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.
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.”
Freeman was recently seen in a key supporting role in Zach Braff‘s drama A Good Person, which starred Florence Pugh.
He’s got Taylor Sheridan‘s series Special Ops: Lioness lined up next, where he’ll star alongside Zoe Saldana. That premieres on Paramount+ on Sunday, July 23.
#Peace.Love.MyDeadFriendZoe
