Veronika Slowikowska and Luke Kirby Team Up for the Indie Comedy Close to Nowhere

The upcoming indie comedy Close to Nowhere is shaping up to be an exciting project, especially with Veronika Slowikowska and Luke Kirby officially set to lead the film. The movie marks the feature directorial debut of Samantha Carroll, who developed the concept over several years and is now bringing it to life with a cast full of familiar faces from film and TV.

The story centers on Coco, played by Slowikowska, a small-town woman dealing with unfulfilled artistic ambitions. In an effort to impress a famous writer, portrayed by Kirby, she invents fake psychic abilities, setting the stage for a comedy driven by ambition, deception, and quirky small-town charm. For fans of Slowikowska’s off-beat comedic style—seen in shows like What We Do in the Shadows and Tires—this role feels like a natural fit.

The ensemble cast includes Isabelle Barbier (The Other Two), Jack Bensinger (The Bear), Deborah Rush (You’ve Got Mail), Lindsay Burdge (A Teacher), Jonas Gindin (Lurker), and Natalie Paul (You). Together, they round out a lineup that blends emerging talent with long-established performers.

Behind the scenes, the producing team features Jonathan Grace, Jessica DiMento, Peter Heres, and Javier Gonzalez, with Carroll also serving as an executive producer. Carroll, who studied at Chapman University’s Dodge College, built many of her key creative relationships during her time there. Among them is producer Peter Heres and cinematographer Seannie Bryan, both of whom she continues to collaborate with now that she’s based in New York. Her earlier short films have screened across venues in Los Angeles and New York, including her recent short Isaac, featured on NoBudge.

Slowikowska, who recently joined Saturday Night Live as a featured player in her first season, has been rising rapidly in the comedy world. With nearly two million followers across Instagram and TikTok, she has grown a substantial fan base thanks to her distinctive sketch comedy style. She’s also appeared in series like Poker Face on Peacock and continues to expand her screen presence. You can learn more about her previous work on her IMDb page.

Luke Kirby, well known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Lenny Bruce in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, brings significant dramatic and comedic experience to the film. He recently reunited with creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino for the Amazon series Étoile and is set to appear opposite Jennifer Garner in Season 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me, premiering February 20, 2026. His full filmography is available on IMDb.

With a fresh directorial voice, a strong ensemble cast, and a premise rooted in ambition and eccentricity, Close to Nowhere has all the ingredients of a standout indie comedy. While release details and production timelines haven’t been announced yet, the project already has plenty of industry buzz, especially with Slowikowska’s rising profile on SNL and Kirby’s consistently acclaimed performances.

As more updates roll out, this is definitely a film worth keeping an eye on.