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. 

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.