Armie Hammer is making a dramatic return to the silver screen, emerging from the shadow of his Hollywood career's collapse amidst a storm of allegations of sexual misconduct. The actor is set to take the lead in "Frontier Crucible," a period western helmed by director Travis Mills and produced by Dallas Sonnier.
"I've carved a niche producing macho indie flicks like 'Bone Tomahawk,' 'Brawl in Cell Block 99,' 'Dragged Across Concrete,' 'Muzzle,' and 'The Standoff at Sparrow Creek,' collaborating with iconic performers such as Kurt Russell, Vince Vaughn, Mel Gibson, Jason Sudeikis, Guy Pearce, Aaron Eckhart, Don Johnson, Stephen Lang, James Badge Dale, Steve Austin, and many more," Sonnier enthused in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday. "And now, I'm thrilled to join forces with Armie Hammer for 'Frontier Crucible.'"
Hammer teased his big-screen resurgence on his Instagram page, sharing snapshots of himself on the "Frontier Crucible" set, with a movie script's front page sprawled on the ground. This return marks a full circle for the great-grandson of oil titan Armand Hammer, who rose to Hollywood A-list fame but was subsequently forced into exile due to personal troubles.
Hammer's downfall began with sexually charged text messages exchanged with various women that surfaced in early 2021. Later that year, a woman named Effie accused him of raping her in 2017, followed by two other women who claimed they suffered severe emotional abuse from him, prompting them to seek treatment for PTSD.
Hammer countered that the relationships were consensual sadomasochistic encounters but acknowledged his emotional abuse towards them. Despite an investigation, the Los Angeles County District Attorney declined to indict Hammer in 2023 due to insufficient evidence.
As he embarks on his acting comeback, "Frontier Crucible," also starring Thomas Jane, revolves around an ex-soldier reluctantly partnering with outlaws, a woman, and her injured spouse to traverse the treacherous Arizona frontier in the 1870s. Together, they battle harsh elements and hostile forces in a desperate struggle for survival.
Details on Hammer's specific role in the western, which also boasts an ensemble cast including Myles Clohessy, Zane Holtz, Mary Stickley, and Eddie Spears, remain under wraps. Sonnier is producing the indie flick under his Bonfire Legend banner, with shooting set to commence in Arizona in November.
Hammer's return also extends to the podcast realm, with "The Armie HammerTime Podcast" debuting earlier this week.
