Danny Ramirez Welcomes Maia Reficco, Diego Calva, Camila Mendes, Lewis Pullman, Becky G, and More in His Directorial Debut ‘Baton’
EXCLUSIVE: Actor Danny Ramirez, recognized for his performances in Top Gun: Maverick and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has locked in the cast and commenced production on Baton, a soccer-centric drama that also marks his debut as a feature director, in which he stars.
Written by Ramirez, who played collegiate soccer prior to his acting career, the film’s cast features Maia Reficco from La Dolce Villa, Diego Calva from Babylons, Camila Mendes from Do Revenge, Mia Maestro from Motorcycle Diaries, Ester Expósito from Elite, Becky G from Blue Beetle, Noah Beck from Sidelined, and Lewis Pullman from Thunderbolts.
Baton follows the story of a soccer player portrayed by Ramirez, who is driven to achieve his professional dreams. His journey takes a turbulent turn after he is expelled from his team and forced to return to Miami, straining his relationship with his sister. As they grapple with their mother’s legacy, he pursues another shot at soccer glory, potentially jeopardizing the only family he has left.
As the film enters production, it aligns with the global spotlight on soccer, coinciding with the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The production team includes notable figures such as Victoria Alonso, known for her work on Avengers: Endgame and Argentina, 1985, alongside Tom Culliver and Ramirez for the new company Pinstripes. Other producers include Joshua Harris from Peachtree Media and Ford Corbett from Gramercy Park Media. David Beckham and Nicola Howson are executive producers for Studio 99, with additional support from various industry veterans.
Gramercy Park’s strategic partner, Manifest Pictures, will manage international sales and introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming European Film Market, while WME Independent and CAA will oversee domestic distribution.
Victoria Alonso commented, “With the World Cup coming to the United States this year, and everything happening in Hollywood, there feels like no better gift than a movie about the world’s most popular game with a predominately Latin cast.”
Danny Ramirez is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Hanson, Jacobson, Teller, among others.
