Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, WWE Superstar Randy Orton, Mia Rose Frampton and Amy Madigan will star in WWE Studios executive president Mike Pavone’s Big Red, which starts filming in New Orleans next week.
Set against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, the film is a coming-of-age story which follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Ellison), a bright student whose English teacher, Mr. Simon (Harris), pairs him on a project with the school’s biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley (aka “Big Red”). When Andy watches Stanley fearlessly confront a school bully, a series of events is unleashed, which changes the lives of both young men and their teacher forever.
Parker portrays Andy’s mother, Sherri. Roebuck plays Andy’s father, Jim. Orton portrays Ed Freel, the father of the bully reprimanded by Simon. When Freel’s son spreads a lie about Simon, Ed repeats the accusation and begins a campaign to get Simon fired. Frampton has been cast as Mary Bell, the prettiest girl in the school, who is also known as the preeminent make-out artist of the eighth grade. And Madigan plays Principal Kelner, whose decision to suspend a school bully has devastating and unforeseen consequences.
Pavone will direct from his own script.
