The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Naomi Watts, Frank Grillo, and Bobby Cannavale will star in James DeMonaco coming of age feature Once Upon a Time in Staten Island.
Set in the summer of 1982, just after the release of Rocky III, the film tells the story of an average teen in a Rocky Balboa-obsessed town on a quest that carries away his entire family.
This coming-of-age drama is definitely a genre shift for DeMonaco, who has spent a good few years writing and directing the Purge franchise, a horror-action movie series.
Watts and Grillo will play the boy’s parents. Also starring are Lucius Hoyos, Jonah Hauer-King, River Alexander and Chase Vacnin.
Production is set to begin later this month.
