Wildcat: A story of struggle, imagination and faith
Renovo Media Group, a film and TV development and production company located in Clear Lake, has announced the start of production on Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke’s “Wildcat.”
Renovo joins Good Country Pictures, Kingdom Story Company and Under the Influence Productions on the indie feature which Hawke directs, produces and also co-wrote with Shelby Gaines. The story is an intimate look at the life of writer Flannery O’Connor and stars Maya Hawke, who also originated the project, in the titular role. “Wildcat” also stars Academy Award® nominee Laura Linney, Philip Ettinger, Rafael Casal, Steve Zahn, Cooper Hoffman, Willa Fitzgerald, Alessandro Nivola and Vincent D’Onofrio.
Principal photography began on Jan. 10, 2023 in Louisville, Kent.
Ethan Hawke previously worked with daughter Maya Hawke on the award winning limited series “The Good Lord Bird,” but he is directing her for the first time with “Wildcat.”
“Maya has been working hard for years to put this project together, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to introduce a new generation of filmgoers to the genius of Flannery O’Connor,” says Ethan Hawke. “Her work explores themes important to all artists — the intersection of creativity and faith, the blurred relationship between imagination and reality.”
“Wildcat,” an unconventional biopic, will follow young writer Flannery O’Connor as she struggles to publish her first novel. A devout Catholic from Georgia, O’Connor was invited to the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Famous for her offbeat short fiction about the American South and her faith, she was plagued by lupus for much of her life, and died at the age of 39. She received much posthumous acclaim, including the National Book Award.
Renovo is fully financing the picture and Cory Pyke, of Renovo Media Group, is a produc-er. “Wildcat” is Executive produced by Eric Groth and David Kingland of Renovo Media Group alongside star Maya Hawke through Under the Influence Productions.
“The opportunity to work with the Hawkes to tell this story of struggle, imagination, and faith is exactly the kind of endeavor that Renovo was created to do,” says Kingland. “This project has brought together a unique combination of cast and crew to share Flannery O’Connor’s life and writings to fans and new audiences alike.”
UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance are handling worldwide distribution rights.
