“Blindspotting” co-star and co-creator Rafael Casal has set up his feature film directorial debut at Lionsgate with a sci-fi romantic comedy titled “First Sight.”
The film, which is about those who fall asleep to find the person of their dreams, brings back the team behind “Blindspotting,” one of the year’s critically acclaimed films. Casal, as well as collaborator Daveed Diggs and Snoot Entertainmen’s Keith Calder and Jess Calder, will produce the film.
Casal, a poet and musician, will write and direct “First Sight.” Aside from “Blindspotting,” he is known for HBO’s “Def Poetry” and he’s set to star in the upcoming film “Bad Education” alongside Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney. He is also the co-founder and the artistic director of the landmark Bars Workshop at the famed New York City’s Public Theater.
“Blindspotting” was a sensation when it premiered at this year’s Sundance film festival where the film was picked up by Lionsgate.
The studio’s eagerness to return to business with Casal and the “Blindspotting” team illustrates a faith and commitment to the filmmakers.
Snoot Entertainment was founded by Keith Calder and Jess Calder in 2004 to develop, finance, and produce films across all genres and media. Snoot’s other recent credits include Oscar-nominated animated film “Anomalisa,” as well as Abe Forsythe’s upcoming “Little Monsters,” starring Lupita Nyong’o, Josh Gad and Alexander England.
“Blindspotting” earned a 93 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. The buddy comedy weaved in lyrical with its combination of buddy comedy and seething social commentary propelled by Diggs and Casal’s (in his feature film debut) powerful performances.
Diggs, of Broadway fame in the musical “Hamilton,” also starred in Lionsgate’s box office hit “Wonder” and will next be on the TNT series “Snowpiercer.”
Casal is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Diggs is repped by WME and Brookside Artist Management.