Kathryn Newton, Storm Reid, Dove Cameron, J. Smith Cameron, and Owen Painter Team Up in Roxy Sophie Sorkin’s New Film ‘Hot Year’
Roxy Sophie Sorkin to Make Feature Directorial Debut with Hot Year
Roxy Sophie Sorkin is set to direct her first feature film, Hot Year, an indie coming-of-age revenge thriller that she also penned. The film stars Kathryn Newton, Storm Reid, Dove Cameron, J. Smith Cameron, and Owen Painter, with production slated to commence in Oklahoma this May.
“Hot Year is an exploration into brutal honesty and boiling, seething, grotesque womanhood,” Sorkin explained. “It’s a movie I wish I had held dear when I was 18. It’s a forehead kiss and a spit in the face. Be prepared to wear fairy wings and bring Fireball.”
Set during a severe heatwave in a small Pacific Northwest town, Hot Year follows two childhood friends whose relationship is tested when a revenge scheme against an ex-boyfriend escalates into an irreversible act of violence. As the night unfolds, the friends confront the fallout of their choices, leading to a clash of buried trauma, loyalty, and self-identity.
The project is being produced by Wagner Entertainment’s Jordan Wagner and Killer Films’ Christine Vachon, alongside Evan Silverberg and Dylan Conklin for Entertainment 360, and Ilya Stewart for Hype Studios. Ryan Hamilton will serve as an executive producer for Wagner Entertainment, with Amanda Larney as co-producer and George Bicknell as associate producer. Newton will also take on an executive producer role.
“Roxy has a really distinct and exciting voice as a filmmaker,” said Wagner. “It’s a bold script—emotional, but fun and unpredictable in a way that feels fresh. Hot Year taps into something very real about friendship and identity at that age, and I think audiences are going to really connect with it. We couldn’t have asked for a better cast to bring this to life, and I’m really looking forward to seeing Roxy bring this world to the screen alongside an incredible group of artists.”
Aleksandr Fomin and Pavel Burian will executive produce for Hype Studios and Mosaic Films, respectively. Co-producers Talia Bella and Randy Wayne of Rebellium Films are also handling production services in Oklahoma.
“Roxy is exactly the kind of filmmaker we’re always drawn to,” Vachon commented. “She has a real point of view and isn’t afraid to take risks with tone or character. Hot Year lives in a space that feels both specific and unsettling, which is very exciting to us. We had such a great experience working with Jordan and Wagner Entertainment on Pretty Babies, and I look forward to continuing that collaboration on Hot Year.”
This film marks Sorkin’s feature directing debut, following her success with multiple shorts showcased at Sundance, Tribeca, and Beyond Fest. She is represented by Entertainment 360, UTA, and Ziffren.
Currently, Kathryn Newton stars alongside Samara Weaving in the thriller Ready or Not 2, while also appearing in the horror feature Abigail. She has garnered attention for her roles in Marvel’s Ant-Man and HBO’s Big Little Lies. Future projects include the Basquiat biopic Samo Lives and Lionsgate’s Devil’s Mouth, with representation by Entertainment 360, WME, and Hansen, Jacobson Teller.
Storm Reid recently won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Riley in HBO’s The Last of Us. Next, she will appear in the Netflix comedy Roommates, produced by Adam Sandler, debuting on April 17, 2026. Reid is also set to star in Teyana Taylor’s directorial debut, Get Lite, at Paramount, planned for release in 2027, and is represented by CAA, The Lede Company, and Granderson Des Rochers.
Dove Cameron’s recent work includes the series 56 Days, an erotic thriller that rapidly climbed to #1 on Prime Video after its release.
J. Smith-Cameron is widely recognized for her role as Gerri Kellman on HBO’s Succession, earning multiple nominations and awards. She will soon appear in CBS’s upcoming series Elsbeth and the FX drama Seven Sisters. Smith-Cameron is represented by Principal Entertainment LA, Gersh, and Schreck Rose Dapello.
Owen Painter will next be featured in FX and Ryan Murphy’s series The Shards and is represented by Gersh, Industry Entertainment, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman.
