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- Jesse Armstrong, creator of "Succession," will direct his first feature film in Utah.
- The untitled HBO project stars Steve Carell and explores themes of greed and ambition.
- Filming begins in Park City, contributing to Utah's strong filmmaking economy.
PARK CITY — Production is slated to begin soon in Utah on a new movie directed by Jesse Armstrong, marking his feature directorial debut and his first major project since his massive hit "Succession" wrapped up in 2023.
It's also slated to bring in some big names to the Beehive State.
"I'm intrigued to discover whether being around so many brilliant actors and directors on 'Succession' has in any way rubbed off on me," Armstrong said, in a prepared statement Tuesday.
The untitled HBO Original project centers around four friends who "reunite during worldwide economic turmoil," according to a summary uploaded to IMDb. In a short logline, Warner Brothers adds that they're a group of "billionaire friends get together against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis."
Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO programming, called the script a "bold examination of modern greed, power and male ambition."
While the movie title remains a mystery, its leading cast is not. It's led by Steve Carell, known for his role in "The Office" and movie roles like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," while also voicing Gru in the "Despicable Me" franchise, among many other projects. Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef and Cory Michael Smith are also part of the cast.
Armstrong is listed as the film's writer and director, as well as one of its executive producers. He's best known for creating "Succession," which garnered him seven Emmy wins, including three for outstanding drama series. He also co-created the British comedy "Peep Show," while also consulting on other TV favorites like "Fleabag" and "What We Do in the Shadows" over the years.
He added Tuesday he's excited to work with "a dream team of cast and crew."
Filming will begin in Park City this month before wrapping up in the spring, according to Warner Brothers.
"That this feature serves as (Armstrong's) directorial debut will only elevate what is already thrilling on the page, and we couldn't be more excited to share this timely film with the world soon," Orsi added.
It's unclear when the film is expected to debut.
However, it'll add to the legacy of filmmaking in Utah, which began over a century ago and continues to remain strong. The Utah Film Commission reported in January that production spending reached $161 million during the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, supporting 9,400 jobs with a median hourly wage of about $29.
