Two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro (The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull) and Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) will star in director David O. Russell’s upcoming pool hustling drama Shutout. The film will mark the fifth time De Niro and Russell have teamed up on a feature. The two have previously worked together on Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, Joy, and Amsterdam.
Alejandro Adams wrote the screenplay, and Russell, Mark Bomback, and RK Films’ Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum will serve as producers.
“We’re delighted to be collaborating with the acclaimed director David O. Russell and the legendary Robert De Niro, and especially excited to see Jenna step into the spotlight alongside these two cinematic icons,” stated RK Films’ Jeff Kirschenbaum. “It’s a rare and thrilling opportunity to support such a high-caliber team coming together to tell a compelling story — a lineup so precise, it feels like the perfect break.”
Black Bear released this description of Russell’s new film:
“Shutout follows Jake Kejeune (De Niro), one of the last masters of a vanishing craft – the pool hustler. Having lived and lost by the roll of a ball in smoky backroom halls, Jake encounters Mia (Ortega), a young prodigy whose raw, electrifying talent reignites a fire he thought long extinguished. Sensing a rare opportunity to shape a legend, Jake takes Mia under his wing, honing her instincts and sharpening her natural gift.
Together, they plunge into the ruthless world of high-stakes pool, where the line between unimaginable fortune and devastating failure is razor-thin. As Mia’s star ascends and her ambition grows, Jake must confront the ultimate question: can he steer her to greatness, or will her hunger for victory eclipse everything he has taught her?”
Black Bear is set to introduce Russell’s latest project to international buyers at the 2025 Cannes Film Market.