Thorne, Kilmer Gear Up for 'The Tower' As SAG-AFTRA Strike Eases
**Bella Thorne and Jack Kilmer Headline Adam Sigal’s Drama ‘The Tower’ Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike**
Bella Thorne, known for her role in 'Divinity', and Jack Kilmer from 'Palo Alto', have been cast in the leading roles for 'The Tower'. This news comes exclusively on the heels of the SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement that has given a green light to 102 projects post the outbreak of the actors' strike. The film in question falls into the category of fantastical drama and is the brainchild of renowned filmmaker, Adam Sigal.
Other noteworthy names roped into the project are Cam Gigandet from 'Violent Night' and Chris Mullinax known for 'Chariot'. The movie currently being shot has been penned as a chilling narrative about a mermaid mysteriously entrapped and deserted for years in the water tower of a small southern town.
As per Sigal, the film is his artistic expression of solitary living without communication and the overpowering desire to explore the world. 'The Tower' is one of the selected projects that had kick-started its shooting pre-launch of the SAG-AFTRA strike and was briefly interrupted due to the outbreak of the strike, restoring post the acquisition of a SAG waiver. The film is being produced by an ensemble of maestros, notably B.I. Rosen, Frederic Demey, James Bruce, Johnny Remo, Clare Bateman-King, and Joey Stanton.
The executive producers for the project are Dani Druz, Sasha Yelaun, Dane and Liz Fiori, Johnny Graham, David Lipper, Robert A. Daly Jr, Tim Marlowe, and Phil Goldfine. Sigal, acknowledging the fortunate position he is in to be working while the dual SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes are ongoing, expressed empathy for those in the industry unable to work at this time.
Thorne, who began her journey to stardom portraying a vital role on Disney Channel's 'Shake It Up', recently donned the director's hat for her first short film 'Paint Her Red'. The film premiered at the Taormina Film Festival this year. The actress also has some notable upcoming features to her name - 'Rumble Through the Dark', 'Saint Clare', and 'The Trainer'.
Jack Kilmer, known for his performances in Gia Coppola’s acclaimed drama 'Palo Alto', the Norwegian black metal biopic 'Lords of Chaos' and his voiceover work for the documentary 'Val' spotlighting his father Val Kilmer’s career, joins Thorne in the leading role for 'The Tower'.
Well, well, one thing's certain - Hollywood strikes or no strikes, the show must go on. With a mermaid, a small-town setting, and some goth hangover from Gigandet (remember Twilight?), seems like we are in for a dark and brooding magical ride.
Was it just me or did anyone else get a slight 'Shape of Water' tremor at the mention of a mermaid? Although, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of a mermaid relegated to a water tower. Somehow, doesn't bode well for an Aqua-man come-on.
And while Sigal's misery over the strike is visible, one can't help but appreciate how it's turned into an artistic opportunity of sorts. To be honest, I’ve missed the chills down my spine that come with dark fantasies since Pan’s Labyrinth.
But hey! As Twain said, "Truth is stranger than fiction" and in an industry where perfect storms are a dime a dozen, this flick seems to be rising against the tide. All we can say is that we are eagerly waiting to be enchanted by this 'mermaid out of water' tale. In the meanwhile, don’t forget to grab your popcorn and join the picket lines along with the cast of 'The Tower' once they wrap up their shoot.
