Actors Nicholas Braun from "Succession," David Castañeda, and O-T Fagbenle have signed on to star in "Splitsville," the upcoming sex comedy helmed by Michael Covino, the director behind "The Climb." The film, produced by Neon and Topic Studios, boasts an ensemble cast that already includes Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Covino himself, and Kyle Marvin, who were previously announced. Neon International is actively showcasing "Splitsville" at the American Film Market (AFM) in Las Vegas this week, following the indie flick's recent wrap-up of production.
The comedy revolves around Ashley (played by Arjona), who initiates a divorce from her kind-hearted husband Carey (Marvin). Devastated, Carey seeks solace from his friends Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino). To his astonishment, he learns that the secret to their blissful union is an open marriage. Determined to give it a try, Carey soon crosses a boundary, causing a cascade of chaos in all their relationships.
Covino and Marvin gained recognition with their acclaimed indie comedy "The Climb" in 2019, which premiered at Cannes and was later acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. The film, which also marked Covino's directorial debut, solidified his status as a rising talent. Neon will distribute "Splitsville" domestically, aiming for a 2025 release, while Neon International is responsible for handling worldwide sales. Neon and Topic Studios previously teamed up for Brandon Cronenberg's "Infinity Pool," marking Neon's first in-house production to hit theaters.
"Splitsville" was developed at Topic Studios under a multi-year first-look deal with Covino and Marvin, stemming from their collaboration on "The Climb." Alongside Topic Studios and Neon, Covino and Marvin are producing the film with Emily Korteweg under their production banner, Watch This Ready. Johnson, Ro Donnelly, and Samantha Racanelli are also producing for TeaTime Pictures, while Arjona and Paul Barbeau serve as executive producers.
Braun is represented by UTA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Castañeda by Buchwald and Stark Management, and Fagbenle by Buchwald.
