Grant Gustin, Tom Pelphrey, Paul Sparks, and Others Join the Cast of the New Dark Comedy ‘Rooster’ Directed by Mills McQueen
EXCLUSIVE: Mills McQueen, making his directorial debut, has completed production on Rooster, a dark comedy featuring an impressive ensemble cast. The film stars Grant Gustin of The Flash fame, alongside Emmy-nominated actors Tom Pelphrey (Task, Ozark) and Paul Sparks (House of Cards). Other notable cast members include Julia Schlaepfer (1923), Matt Gomez Hidaka (Eddington), Beau Knapp (The Nice Guys), and Yao (Sinners).
Rooster, written by McQueen, is set in late 1990s Austin. The storyline follows a once-promising salesman who, in an effort to pay off his debts, steals his neighbor’s prized pet rooster and sells it as a fighting cock. This act triggers a series of unfortunate events when the buyer demands more than just a refund.
Filming took place in Austin, with production led by Carl Effenson (Mudbound, Bob Trevino Likes It) and Kelly Peck (The Brutalist, The Son and the Sea). The executive producer team comprises Amber Brask, McQueen, Edgar Rosa, Alex Borlenghi, Michael Denton, and Greg Denton.
In a statement, the production team expressed enthusiasm for sharing McQueen’s original and comedic vision with audiences, emphasizing the importance of his directorial debut.
McQueen commented on his commitment to storytelling, stating, “I’m committed to original storytelling, with films that remind us of the sensibilities of simpler, more connected times. It was imperative to create a homage to ’90s films, when movies were written for 40 ft screens and rented habitually for at-home rewatches. Rooster and the artists that participated in its creation are part of the powerful renaissance to connect audiences with the theatre again.”
The cast members are represented by well-known agencies, including CAA, Gersh, and Luber Roklin Entertainment.
