Rob Lowe and Keith David Team Up for Dark Comedy My New Friend Jim from Sumerian Pictures
Rob Lowe and Keith David are set to lead the upcoming dark comedy My New Friend Jim, a new film from Sumerian Pictures and filmmaker Ash Avildsen, currently in production in Nevada. The movie, described as a character-driven, twistedly heartfelt story, follows two fathers from completely different worlds who form an unexpected friendship while searching for a runaway daughter in Reno.
Directed and co-written by Ash Avildsen, who is known for his work on Queen of the Ring, the movie aims to explore themes of fatherhood, class divides, and the shared emotional journey of two men brought together by circumstance. According to Avildsen, My New Friend Jim is “a reminder that it’s never too late to find a friend in the unlikeliest place,” and highlights how parenthood can erase the boundaries between classes. The film uses Reno’s offbeat charm as the perfect backdrop for this unlikely bond to unfold.
The movie is being produced by Anthony Mastromauro, whose previous credits include The Old Man and the Gun and Finding Steve McQueen, alongside Ash Avildsen. Paul Leighton, Angelene Tania Grode, and Rob Lowe serve as executive producers, while Brad LaFave joins as co-producer. The production is taking place through Sumerian Pictures, part of Sumerian Entertainment, which also includes Sumerian Records and Sumerian Comics under the same creative banner.
Rob Lowe, known for his long and versatile career spanning films like St. Elmo’s Fire and The Outsiders, and hit series such as The West Wing, Parks and Recreation, and Netflix’s Unstable, is keeping his creative streak strong. He currently hosts and produces Fox’s popular game show The Floor, now in its fourth season and already renewed for a fifth. Following five seasons of 9-1-1: Lone Star, where he also worked as an executive producer, Lowe will next be seen opposite Crispin Glover in Bleecker Street’s horror film The Third Parent, a project he also produced. He recently wrapped production on another indie dark comedy, The Musical, where he stars with Will Brill and Gillian Jacobs. Lowe is represented by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Latham & Watkins.
Keith David, an Emmy-winning actor, brings decades of gravitas to the project. Known for his acclaimed work in Ken Burns documentaries like Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, The War, and Jackie Robinson, David’s film credits include Platoon, The Thing, and They Live. He currently stars in FX’s The Lowdown and HBO Max’s Duster, and his upcoming roles include the film The Ogilvy Fortune and the Rick and Morty spinoff President Curtis. He is represented by Verve, DVFI Management, and Meyer & Downs.
As for Ash Avildsen, the creative force behind Sumerian, he continues to expand his footprint across entertainment. His previous project, Queen of the Ring, told the inspiring true story of Mildred Burke, the first female athlete to earn a million-dollar purse in professional wrestling. Avildsen also created American Satan and its follow-up series Paradise City. He is represented by CAA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Bloch Law.
Production on My New Friend Jim is expected to continue through November in Reno, and more casting announcements and release details are anticipated soon. For more updates on the project, you can follow the latest news via Live for Film and Blex Media.
